NISD AcDec teams Shine at State, Advance to Nationals

For the second year in a row, two Northside ISD Academic Decathlon teams have achieved historic victories at the state level, securing their spots in the upcoming national competition. 

Large School Competition – Thomas E. Moseley State Finals

Warren High School placed second at the State Finals (Large School Division) and is now advancing to the national competition in California. This marks the second time in as many years for the Warren Academic Decathlon team to advance to the national level in the large school division.

“Warren students prove that elite education comes from neighborhood public institutions,” says Coach Joseph Bayona. “Our team of nine is always the spirit of excellence that runs through Warren hallways. I could not be prouder of the achievement of this group of students.”  

Warren High School Team Roster:

Alexandria Caldwell, Abdiel Ortega, Martin Nocos, Connor Knowlton, Katelyn Minto, Nathaniel Garza, Owen Rodriguez, Coach April Rubio-Garza, and Coach Joseph Bayona. 

Corpus Christi Small School State Finals

For the sixth consecutive year, the Health Careers High School Academic Decathlon team is headed to the National Academic Decathlon competition – a record-breaking achievement that no other school, large or small, has accomplished. 

The team traveled to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they captured the State Championship Title for the Small School Division and earned over $14,000 in scholarships. Now, they are set on the Nationals in April in Anaheim, Calif.

“This year's group of students is one of the hardest-working teams I have had the pleasure of coaching,” said Head Coach Diana Johnston. “They support each other, love learning, and are forming lifelong friendships and memories. I am so proud to be their coach and grateful for this journey together.”

Health Careers High School Team Roster:  

Aashvi Patel, Yuvan Buchaiahgari, Vivek Gowdhaman, Maryam Adeparusi, Alekzander Almaraz, Dahlia Nicodemus, Tania Ugwu, Jocelyn Smith, and Walid Iqbal.

Frisco Invitational State Finals

The Clark High School AcDec team participated in the Frisco Invitational State Meet over the weekend. The team finished in second place overall in the large school division, earning the team $3000 in scholarships for that second-place finish. 

Clark took the gold medal in the Super Quiz Relay with a score of 31 out of 39.

“It has been a great group of students to work with all year, and it was especially gratifying to see their hard work pay off in Frisco,” said Coach Nat Player. “The other coaches and I are proud of their individual and collective effort, proud of them for overcoming challenges, and proud of the way that they encouraged each other and came together as a team.”

Clark High School Team Roster:

Nat Player (coach), Ayla LaFlamme, Eliana Fux, John Munch, Greer Browning (alternate), and Rebecca Berringer (coach); (front row) Naomi Tigue, Zieker Bush, Carina Fech, and Mason Yang; not pictured Alyssa Utterback (coach).

Outstanding Individual State Winners:

Health Careers High School:

• Aashvi Patel earned Silver in Art and Bronze in Math and a $1,000 scholarship
• Yuvan Buchaiahgari earned Gold in Economics and Interview, a Silver in Music, and Gold Individual Overall with the highest score of the competition and a $2,500 scholarship
• Vivek Gowdhaman earned a Silver in Economics and a $1,000 scholarship
• Maryam Adeparusi earned a Gold in Economics, Math, Music, and Interview, a Silver in Science, and a Silver Individual Overall and a $2,250 scholarship
• Dahlia Nicodemus earned a Gold in Art and Interview and a Bronze in Social Science and a $1,000
• Alekzander Almaraz earned a $1,000 scholarship
• Tania Ugwu earned Gold in Literature, Music, and Social Science, a Silver in Economics, a Bronze in Art, and a Gold Individual Overall and a $2,500 scholarship
• Jocelyn Smith earned a Gold in Art, a Silver in Social Science, a Bronze in Literature, and a Bronze Individual Overall and a $2,000 scholarship
• Walid Iqbal earned a Gold in Interview and a $1,000 scholarship

Clark High School:

Honors division:

• Carina Fech took bronze in Interview. 
• Eliana Fux won gold in Art and bronze in Essay. 
• Zieker Bush took gold in Economics and Music, silver in Art, and bronze in Literature. He was second overall in the Honors division and won a $1250 scholarship.

Scholastic division:

• Naomi Tigue got the bronze in Social Science.
• Mason Yang was 4th in Music.

Varsity division:

• Ayla LaFlamme finished in 6th place in Math.
• John Munch took gold in Art, Science, and Social Science, and bronze in Economics and Music. John took the gold medal in the overall for the Varsity division, earning himself a $1500 scholarship.

Warren High School:

• Alexandria Caldwell: bronze in science and social science; silver in art and economics; gold medal in essay and music; third highest Honors student in Texas.
• Abdiel Ortega: bronze medal in economics, science, and mathematics; fifth highest scoring Honors student in Texas.
• Martin Nocos: bronze medal in art
• Connor Knowlton: bronze medal in math; gold medal in economics in the Scholastic category
• Katelyn Minto: silver medal in literature in the Scholastic category
• Nathaniel Garza: bronze medal in science; silver medals in art, economics, music; and gold medals in literature, mathematics, and social science; was the highest scoring Varsity student in Texas
• Owen Rodriguez: silver medals in music and social science; bronze in art; was the fourth highest scoring Varsity in Texas