07:56 AM CST on Monday, February 13, 2006

By Alicia Gooden / Galveston County Daily News

FRIENDSWOOD — Who is considered the first humanist pope?

Who developed the religious doctrine of predestination?

Why did Leonardo da Vinci leave Milan in 1499?

Can you answer these questions — quickly?

If you’re a member of Friendswood High School’s academic decathlon team you can, and that ability has helped put the team in a familiar position — preparing for the state championships in two weeks.

The team won 55 medals at regional competition, all while having two new coaches and several new team members.

The group was the top team in the Medium School Division at the meet at Deer Park in January. The team scored 43,456 points.

With 13 consecutive years of winning state championships, the team is now setting its sight on another.

But there’s no pressure.

“If we don’t win this time, we’re pretty much failures,” joked senior Kieran Fitzgerald, a science whiz in the academic decathlon competition. “I’m all about beating other people and raising my self-esteem.”

Friendswood competed against several other school districts, including Clear Creek and La Marque, which also won medals in the January competition.

The decathlon focuses on 10 events. They include art history, classical music, science, economics and mathematics.

The nine-member team consists of three A honors students, three B students and three C students.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” said 18-year-old Richard Arduengo, who likes art and music.

This year the team has two new coaches: Daron Scott and Michael Wells.

Was coming into a 13-year dynasty intimidating?

“Well, most of the kids know what to do, and we have the two former coaches as a resource for us,” said Scott.

Wells said he has enjoyed the long hours and intense study with the students.

“It’s time-consuming and challenging, but it’s also a lot of fun,” he said.

The team advances to the state meet in San Antonio on Feb. 22-24.

Q. Who is considered the first humanist pope?

A. Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini, 1458.

Q. Who developed the religious doctrine of predestination?

A. John Calvin.

Q. Why did Leonardo da Vinci leave Milan in 1499?

A. In 1498, Louis XII of France conquered Milan without a fight. About a year later, da Vinci saw French archers using the life-sized clay model of Gran Cavallo for target practice. He left for Venice.