PHS Academic Decathlon team wins at state

The Pearland High School Academic Decathlon team won a total of 36 medals and $14,800 in scholarships at the state competition held Feb. 24-26.

The team also won the large-school gold overall award and the team silver award in the Super Quiz competition.

Although Pearland High School scored the most points in its division, Rockwall High School earned more points overall, which makes Rockwall the school that will represent Texas at the national finals.

The individual awards earned by the PHS team were as follows:

In the Varsity Division, Jordan Nguyen won a silver medal in economics, a bronze in math and overall fourth place in the division. Levi Nussman won gold in art and overall bronze.

In the Scholastic Division, Nathan Howe earned a bronze medal in math. Theresa Nguyen won silver in art, bronze in language/literature and bronze in economics. Evan Parsons-Riddle won gold in language/literature, gold in economics and silver in music.

In the Honors Division, Shivam Dave won a gold medal in music, silver in language/literature, bronze in speech and overall bronze in the division. Tejas Dave earned silver in economics. Catherine Tregre won a bronze medal in Super Quiz.

Kyler Plotts also competed in the Varsity Division.

Robert Layne, Scott Crossno and Corey Cogswell coached the team.

Layne earned the Tom Norris Texas Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year Award.

"Our PHS Academic Decathlon students put forth a Herculean effort, studying a minimum of four hours daily once school begins and meeting during the summer and on weekends," said Pearland ISD Director of Advanced Academics Margo Gigee in the press release. "Decathletes all know the essentials for college success: self-discipline, time management, goal-setting, priorities and intensive effort."