By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

Olympian scholar-athletes from St. Dominic School, Brick, proved their strongest muscles were between their ears as they took home top honors in the 19th annual Scholastic Olympics held at Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, March 13.

The contest, designed to stimulate educational interest and highlight academic achievement at the seventh grade level, attracted 16 teams of students from Catholic, public and private schools throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties to compete in three divisions according to school enrollment.

The heptathlon of subject areas in the competition included Art, English, History, Math, Science, Spelling and Technology; students took written exams, performed computer projects, sketched still-life pictures and competed in a spelling bee in their quest for success.

Each division-winning school received a trophy and was ranked for top overall honors. Individual student medalists will receive financial scholarships if they choose to attend Monsignor Donovan High School. 

In addition to clinching the overall gold, the students from St. Dominic won first place in the contest’s Division Two. Toms River Intermediate North ranked second among their competitors and won Division Three. Point Pleasant’s G. Harold Antrim School took home third place overall. Bay Head School, Bay Head topped Division One.

Other diocesan Catholic schools that competed in the Olympics were St. Joseph School, Toms River; St. Denis School, Manasquan; All Saints Regional Catholic School, Manahawkin; Holy Family School, Lakewood; St. Aloysius School, Jackson, and St. Veronica School, Howell.

This year’s win marked a three-peat for the Blue Jay scholars from St. Dominic. The seventh graders brought home a total of seven medals in five subject areas. Team members and their awards included Alyssa Bogan, Mark Caverly (Gold, History), Josephine Decker (Gold, Art), Allison DeLuca, Timothy Jinks (Silver, History), Allison Jones (Silver, Spelling), Kerry Kitrick, Michael Luckhowec, Julianne Lutz, Patrick Magahiis, Colin McMahon (Silver, English), Bryn Onoshko (Bronze, Technology), Lindsay Pham (Silver, Art), and Julia Swanson.

Other diocesan school scholars in Division One and their awards included:

St. Denis School: Olivia Chevance (Gold, Science); JP Fleming (Bronze, Science); Shannon Donnelly (Bronze, History); Kathryn Wynd (Bronze, Technology); Pia Mitchell (Bronze, Spelling)

St. Aloysius School: Mackenzie Kuran (tied for Bronze, Math); Adam Cohrs (Silver, History); Titus Hood (Gold, Spelling)

Division Two medalists by school were:

St. Veronica School: Justin Johnson (Silver, Science); Joshua Benedon (tied for Silver, Technology)

St. Joseph School: Adam Mangold (Bronze, Science); Edward Kayal (tied for Silver, Math) Joseph LaFergia (tied for Bronze, Math); Emily Cialino (Bronze, English); Blaise Santi (Bronze, Spelling)

All Saints Regional Catholic School: Christine Suddeth (tied for Gold, Math); Nicholas Stefanon (Bronze, History); Kaela Lindsay (Bronze, Art); Matthew Bruinooge (Gold, Technology)

Holy Family School: Ashley Noon (tied for Bronze, Math); Sarah Bunn (Gold, English); Jonathan Catalano (tied for Silver, Technology)