Downingtown East wins state academic competition

DOWNINGTOWN The Downingtown East High School academic team won the state academic competition Friday in Harrisburg and received a $2,000 scholarship for the school.

The win was the school's first since Downingtown split into two schools - East and West - more than a decade ago. The four members who competed - senior Neil Vinjamuri, sophomore Nicholas Wu, and juniors Zack Weber and Vis Lanka - went up against 18 other schools, including Tredyffrin Township's Conestoga High School.

Conestoga, which won last year, came in third. Emmaus High School in Lehigh County finished second.

The competition's categories included world history, literature, science and current events.

The Downingtown team's coach, Darryl McCauley, said he was proud of his students, although they almost gave him a heart attack when they won by only five points in the semifinal round.

"That was a nail-biter," the school librarian said.

Members of the academic team are scheduled to compete in Washington this month in an unrelated national competition.

- Michaelle Bond