CERTAMEN AND AGON REPORTS · Torch: U.S. · Fall 2020
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This year, NJCL was proud to offer Agon for the second time in the history of the convention. Agon is very similar to Certamen, except that the questions assume a Hellenic focus in respect to history, literature, language, art, and mythology. The latter category is a cross-over with Certamen. Agon is designed to appeal to students who study Ancient Greek civilization and language.
This year, we had 21 teams register for the competition.
AGON
ENTERTAINMENT
David Jackson
2015-2020 Academic Contest Chair
Unlike in competitive Certamen, teams may be comprised of members from multiple states (always encouraged). Teams in Agon may also choose their own names (with a Greek theme, of course) and we had some creative ones this year. Congratulations to this year’s Agon champions “The Mutilators of the Herms,” consisting of Dante Minutillo (MA), Jinwoo Kim (MA), Robert Muniz (FL) and Teddy Trakas (TX).
We are hopeful that NJCL can offer a live version of Agon at the 2021 convention in San Diego. University!
Despite the pandemic, Certamen was able to continue on at virtual NJCL 2020. There were three options for Certamen (Competitive, Open,
World Series of Certamen) in addition to Agon. Competitors participated in all types of Certamen on Zoom and various rounds were live streamed on YouTube, many of which are still available for viewing. There were 15 teams in the World Series of Certamen, 17 in Open, and a whopping 56 teams competing in the first ever virtual Competitive Certamen competition at NJCL. Congratulations to all of this year’s Certamen competitors!
Jennie Luongo
Certamen Chair
CERTAMEN
ENTERTAINMENT
Competitive Certamen Winners:
Novice:
5th Place – Texas
4th Place – Florida
3rd place – New Hampshire
2nd Place – Illinois
1st Place – Massachusetts
MVP: Sreesa Virinchi, NH
Intermediate:
5th Place – Virginia
4th Place– Wisconsin
3rd place – Florida
2nd place – Massachusetts
1st place – Texas
MVP: Marco Cheung, TX
Advanced:
5th Place – Florida
4th Place - Texas
3rd place – Wisconsin
2nd place – Virginia
1st place - Massachusetts
MVP: Dante Minutillo, MA
Open Certamen Winners:
Novice:
3rd Place: High Flying Hippopotomi: Aidan Chudy, NY, Ailin Sha, MA, Shawn Jiminez, ME
2nd Place: Awesome Aquilae: Matthew Califano, NJ, Rahul Sundaresan, CA, Petra Croom, FL
1st Place: Bold Boves: Ben Raeburn, FL, Davis Wash, FL, Dennis Jin, MA
Advanced:
2nd Place: Neat Natantes: Thomas Donohue, VA, Delina Yirga’alem, TX, Savannah Brown, FL, Saralaya Rohit, TX
1st Place (tied): Perfect Pegasae: Grant Payne, FL, Kevin Farrell, VA, Abhinav Kona, GA
Quelling Crocodilii: Anand Advani, VA, Advaith Shivaram, GA, Mickey Robertson, VA Nikitha Thodugul, TX