Training for the Academic Decathlon at Marshall High

Academic Decathlon coach Larry Welch talks to the John Marshall High School team. Some students call him the father of the group. It fits -- especially because Welch doesn’t have children.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Team member Wen Lee, 18, reviews a timed mathematics test.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the John Marshall High School Academic Decathalon team take a timed test.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Team members study as they prepare for the state competition in March. The school placed first in the L.A. Unified competition in 2010 and won the district¿s first national title in 1995.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Marvin Paparisto, 17, and Alayna Myrick, 16, take a timed math test. The team consists of A, B and C students.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A team member takes a timed test. At Marshall, study sessions start at 2 p.m. and are held six hours a day, six days a week.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Head coach Larry Welch, left, observes Kimiyo Bremer as the team practices voice exercises in the the hallway.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Alayna Myrick, left, and Marvin Paparisto work together during studying. [For the Record, Feb. 28: An earlier version of this caption misidentified Marvin Paparisto.]   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Team member John Lascano studies.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Wen Lee practices for the upcoming competition.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Coach Larry Welch, left, works with team member John Lascano.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)