Local News

Nimitz, MacArthur Headed to State Academic Decathlon

IrvingWeekly Staff

| Published

February 11, 2011

For the sixth consecutive year, and the twenty-first time in the past 24 years, the Nimitz High School Academic Decathlon Team won the Regional Academic Decathlon, hosted January 28-29 at Richland High School, and will advance to the state meet. For the first time in school history, MacArthur High School, winning fourth at regional competition, will also advance to state.

The Academic Decathlon is designed to include students from all academic backgrounds. Each nine-member team consists of three “A” students, three “B” students and three “C” students. In addition to a seven-minute interview, a one-hour essay and two speeches – four minutes prepared and two minutes impromptu, written comprehensive exams are given in music, art, language and literature, mathematics, economics, social science, and the Super Quiz. For this year, the overall theme was the Great Depression, students studied the novel The Grapes of Wrath, and geology was the Super Quiz topic.

Nimitz scored 43,989 points, outscoring second place Coppell High School by 3,200 points and third place Flower Mound Marcus by 3,500 points. High-point scorer at the meet was Junior Allison Roderick with 8,403 points and a perfect score in the Super Quiz Relay. The Vikings amassed 66 medals, led by top “C” student Sophia Chavez with 13. Outstanding individual performances were turned in by Jessica Alvarez, second place “B” student, 10 medals; Parker Hillis, third place “B” student, eight medals; and Maggie Stiggleman, fourth place “A” student, seven medals. Other individual medal totals were as follows: Phuc Ta, five medals; Kevin Chacko, three medals; Marlene Hernandez, five medals; and Mauricio Nunez, 3 medals. Nimitz Academic Decathlon Coaches are Greg Jackson, Greg Thomson, Carey Christenberry, Becky Christenberry, and Jeremy Chumley.

In a school-best performance, MacArthur High School won fourth place out of the 14 teams competing, earning 35,302 points and winning third place in the Super Quiz Relay. Top scorer for MacArthur was Natalie Bradford with 7,588 points, making her the fifth place overall student at the meet. Outstanding individual performances were turned in by Zach Brown, third place interview and Stephanie Kapok, second place math. Contributing team members are Candace Galbreath, Jaime Cardona, Ria Rahman, Usama Khalid, Crystal Gomes and Byron Hoskins. MacArthur coaches are Paula D'Spain, Tina Bynum, Angela Ayers, Sherry Martinez, and Jeff Tillerson.

The team from Irving High School placed sixth out of 14 with a score of 34,060 and marks the first time in six years the team has finished in the top ten. Irving High also finished fourth overall in the Super Quiz Relay. Outstanding individual performances were turned in by Alvaro Aleman with 6,733 points and placing tenth overall “A” student; Luis Nambo with 6,413 points, tenth place overall “B” student and first place in Art for “B” students; Ed Nuno with tenth place overall “C” student and third place overall for Social Studies. Contributing team members were Saul Membreno, Beatriz Ramos, and Alvin Nguyen. Coaches are James Newman, Brenda Gambill, Julie Pritchett, Judith Nevil, Carol Lawler, Janica Dudley, Victor Galanis, Kristi Rucker, and Sandra Pennal.

In the medium school division, Singley Academy earned 21,144 points. High-point scorers for the team were Lesly Alvarez, Adriana Portillo, and Ann Anosike. Contributing team members were Maria Hong, Lydia Garcia, Magaly Rodriguez, and Marleth Chavez. Singley Academy coaches are Laura Hayes and Stephanie Tennyson.

Nimitz and MacArthur now advance to the state large-school meet, which will be held at the end of February in El Paso.