Celebrating the Students Behind the Success
Embedded Files
By Emsley Krome
Most people think of competition at Pen Argyl Area High School as something that happens on the field or court, but this spring, the Reading Olympics team proved that it can also happen through books.
The Pen Argyl Knights high school team recently placed third in the 2026 Reading Olympics Competition, showing just how much work goes into one of the school’s most beloved academic activities.
Reading Olympics is an annual academic competition where teams of students read from a list of 25 books over several months. The books cover a wide range of genres, pushing students to read things they may not normally choose on their own. After finishing the list, teams compete in quiz-style rounds that test how well they know and understand the books.
Photo Courtesy of The Green Echo
Payton Dewalt, Megan MacLeod, Addison Manning, and Fletcher Marsh with the Reading Olympics team awaiting the results of the competition.
The competition was formerly held at Easton Area High School. With a new team of organizers this year, the event was held at Pleasant Valley.
The event always takes place in the spring and includes three rounds of questions. Teams have to work quickly and rely on both their own preparation and their teammates in order to do well.
At Pen Argyl Area High School, the team is led by advisor Sarah Hannick, though much of the work is student-focused.
According to Hannick, students take on much of the responsibility themselves by planning meetings, organizing the reading list, and making sure everyone stays on track.
Students also prepare by reading, tracking which books have been completed, and putting together study guides to help the team review.
That level of preparation is part of what makes Reading Olympics different from many other school activities.
Unlike most competitions, students are responsible for reading all 25 books on their own time while balancing school, sports, and other commitments. Since many team members are already taking higher level courses, the amount of work involved makes the competition even more demanding.
“We all have busy lives, and sometimes it’s hard to even find the time to sit down and read,” senior, Addison Manning said.
Because of that, the team relies heavily on organization and teamwork. Students divide up the books, track their progress, and make sure every title is covered by at least one reader.
The team also uses different study strategies to prepare. Manning explained that she writes over 200 flashcards each year with trivia from the books to make studying easier and help with recall during competition. In addition to individual studying, the team quizzes each other and uses shared study materials to review important details.
Despite the pressure, students say the competition is one of the most rewarding parts of the year.
Manning said one of her favorite parts is earning points for the team and knowing she can contribute when it counts. Even with a smaller team than usual this year, the high school Knights still placed third in the spring 2026 competition, continuing a strong record of success.
Hannick said the team’s success is directly correlated to how motivated and organized the students were throughout the season. She said they stayed focused all year and were determined not to show up unprepared, which played a major role in the team’s performance.
Reading Olympics is not just a high school activity, though. Pen Argyl’s middle school team also participates in the program, giving younger students the chance to build those same skills early. Led by advisor Liz Doll, the middle school team follows a similar format and helps prepare students for the expectations of the high school level.
Having both middle and high school teams allows students to build confidence over time, both as readers and as teammates.
Hannick said programs like Reading Olympics are important because they give students a chance to connect through reading while also becoming stronger critical thinkers and writers.
Overall, Reading Olympics gives students a different kind of challenge than most school activities. It combines reading, teamwork, and competition in a way that pushes students academically while still allowing them to pursue a hobby that they genuinely enjoy.
For Pen Argyl students, it is a chance to work together, stay committed, and prove that competition does not always have to be loud; it can happen one page at a time.
Page updated
Report abuse