The Dobie High School Academic Decathlon team will be back in familiar surroundings as they are heading to the state competition later this month.

Dobie’s team placed second in the regional contest recently to qualify for the state contest that will be held at Cinco Ranch High School Feb. 28-29. In addition to clinching a berth to state, members of the Dobie team took first place in the “Super Quiz” event at the regional event. The victory is the 32nd consecutive Super Quiz win for Dobie.

Success is nothing new to Dobie’s decathlon team, as they claimed national titles in 1992 and 1996, along with finishing third in the nation in 2003.In addition, they have advanced to the state competition 10 times since 1991.

This year’s trip to state also marked the return of Dobie’s team to competition after a two-year absence. For many on the team, it is their first year of competition.

It's exciting for us to have done so well and to have outscored other more experienced teams,” said coach Steven Higginbotham.

Members of the team include Zi Yang, Tam Tran, Amado Gonzalez, Mariel Arhelger, Truong Luu, Trenton Ladler, Kelvin Hypolite, Oscar Ortiz and Luis Baez. The team is coached by Higginbotham and Brad Rampp.

Higginbotham is also a Dobie graduate and was a member of the 1995 team that advanced to state. He is in his second year of teaching U.S. History, sociology and psychology at Dobie.

For the past several months, the Dobie team’s practice schedule has been rigorous, as they attend study sessions four days a week after school and on weekends.

“It's been great to work with these nine highly motivated students,” Rampp said. “Since August, they have all sacrificed their time, sleep and social life to prepare for these rigorous competitions, and it has paid off.”