Pearland decathlon teams shine at regional meet

Academic Decathlon teams from Pearland and Dawson high schools led the Large School Division during the regional scholastic competition in January.

The Academic Decathlon is a high school scholastic competition where students test their academic abilities by competing against other schools. During Academic Decathlon meets, students compete individually in multiple-choice tests in science, math, economics, language/literature, art and music, according to the release. Competitors also take a written quiz in the Super Quiz topic (this year's topic was the Age of Empire) and complete speech, interview and essay contests.

The top two student scores in each of the three competition divisions (Varsity, Scholastic and Honors) determine each team's final score. PHS students scored 46,669 points, the second-highest in the nation, taking home 71 medals to advance to the state meet in February.

The team from DHS did not advance to the state, but competitors from the school placed fourth for medium schools and won a bronze for overall score in the Super Quiz.

In the Varsity Division, Pearland's Jordan Nguyen won gold in language/literature, music and math; silver in science, art and economics; bronze in Super Quiz; and was the overall silver medalist in that division.

Levi Nussman won gold in music, art and speech; silver in math; bronze in language/literature; and was the overall gold medalist in the Varsity Division. Kyler Plotts won bronze in math, economics, speech and interview.

In the Scholastic Division, Nathan Howe of Pearland won gold in math and bronze in science; Theresa Nguyen won gold in art, silver in music, bronze in language/literature and essay and overall fourth place.

Evan Parsons-Riddle won gold in language/literature, music, art and economics; silver in Super Quiz; and was the overall gold medalist in the Scholastic Division.

In the Honors Division, Shivam Dave won silver in music and science; bronze in Super Quiz, art, math, economics and speech; and was the overall bronze medalist in that division.

Tejas Dave won gold in Super Quiz, science, math and economics; silver in art; and was the overall silver medalist in the Honors Division.

Catherine Tregre won gold in music, science, economics and speech; bronze in Super Quiz, language/literature and essay; and was the overall gold medalist in the Honors Division.

For Dawson, Lucia Zhan finished fifth for overall score. Josh Rasband won bronze in science, essay, language and literature, and fourth place for overall score, while Janie Vo took the silver medal in Super Quiz.

For more information, visit www.txacadec.org.