29-01-2025
Small (School) but mighty; 3 decathlon teams headed for state
Jan. 29—Imagine preparing for a test that will last most of the day, cover topics across 10 subjects, include strict time limits, could involve a speech or an interview panel, and it is done in a competitive environment. That is Academic Decathlon. It is a daunting challenge.
Ector County ISD hosted the Region 1 Academic Decathlon on Jan. 24 and 25 and was well represented by five teams, three of which advanced to the state championships next month.
The team from New Tech Odessa won the Region 1 Small School Championship. NTO also won the Super Quiz competition.
Odessa Collegiate Academy took 2nd place in the Small School Division. OCA tied for second in the Super Quiz.
The STEM Academy, competing for the first time, captured 4th place in the Small School Division and 4th place in the Super Quiz.
All three schools — NTO, OCA and STEM — earned a competition spot at the Academic Decathlon State Meet Feb. 27 — March 1 in Frisco. Only the top 10 small schools across the state earned a place to compete at this event.
Competing in the Large School Division, Odessa High School finished in 2nd place and Permian High School 3rd place with ECISD taking four of the nine individual medals. Permian's Laney Cobb earned 2nd place in the Honors category and teammate Hiram Brito took 3rd place in the Scholastic category. From OHS, Rene Olivas won the Scholastic category championship and Mariana Banuelos was 2nd place in the Varsity category.
ECISD students took all the top three spots in each category (Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity) of the Small School Division. OCA's Mallory Hough earned the highest number of points overall in the meet (8,128) in winning the Honors category; NTO's Rohan Reed was the champion of the Scholastic category, and NTO's Mary Rivera was the champion of the Varsity category.
"We are so proud of our students and their coaches," ECISD Director of Advanced Academics Dr. Kristen Vesely said in a news release. "To prepare for Academic Decathlon takes months of study and practice, time management, perseverance, and confidence. We are thrilled to celebrate not only their hard work and dedication but also their extraordinary achievements!"
About Academic Decathlon
The competition consists of 10 rigorous events that challenge students academically, creatively, and personally. Six of these events — Art, Music, Social Science, Economics, Science, and Language and Literature — are 50-question multiple-choice tests, each completed in just 30 minutes. The Math test includes 35 questions, also completed in a 30-minute window.
Within each team, students compete in three categories based on their GPA:
— Honors
— Scholastic
— Varsity
In the Speech event, students deliver a prepared speech they have practiced extensively, followed by an impromptu speech created and delivered on the spot. The Interview event gives students the opportunity to participate in a professional, high-stakes interview, showcasing their communication skills, confidence, and ability to think critically. In the Essay event, students write a full-length essay in only 50 minutes, testing their ability to craft thoughtful and well-organized writing under tight time constraints.
