Academic Decathlon
2019 State Champions!
Team finishes 6th at nationals
Pius X High School’s Academic Decathlon team represented the state of Nebraska at the National Competition in Minneapolis April 25-April 27. The team placed 6th nationally and brought home 10 individual medals in the fields of Art History, Essay, Science, Music, Literature, and Math. Congratulations to their coaches Ann Kotopka and Alex Hain and to the competitors Isaac Kramer, Thomas Kotopka, Kolbe Villa, Wally Langdon, Brandon Birch, John Michael Hewitt, Kellen Knotwell, and Logan Uttecht.
Pius X Academic Decathlon Coaching Staff
- Ann Kotopka – Head coach / Art, Language & Literature, Speech, Interview / 1987 Pius graduate
- Alec Hain – Assistant coach / Social Science, Science, Economics / 2011 Pius graduate
- Jean Timmerman – Music / 1988 Pius graduate
Academic Decathlon is an accelerated and intensive year-long course of study in science, social studies, math, English (literature, critical reading, and writing), art, music, speech and economics. A new theme focuses the study each year, so a student may take this course more than once. Students are encouraged to participate in at least one scrimmage the first semester. A select group of twelve students will compete in Regional, and if successful, State, and possibly National Competitions. Because students in Academic Decathlon must come from three academic levels (A, B, and C or below) as determined by selected portions of their GPA, students of varying ability and grade will be in class together. Grading standards for this course are adjusted for grade and ability. Summer reading is encouraged.
2019/20 Team
Honors: Andrew Kotopka, Clare Oldenburg, Kevin Pynes
Scholastic: Ashton Ivanov, Marianne Cunningham, Ziyal McArthur
Varsity: John Hewitt, Madison Hodge, Garrett Beeck
Alternates: Kolbe Villa, Marcos Oyler, Eric Varicak
2019 State AcaDeca Photo Gallery
AcaDeca hosts positive events for younger students
Academic Decathlon hosted two events for 5th-8th graders this August to help fund their fall trip to San Francisco. Students played all kinds of games including Ultimate Tag, Mafia, Texas Hold ‘Em, Knockout, watched an outdoor movie, learned line dances, and just had fun hanging out with friends.
