New Tech Odessa High School

New Tech Odessa
New Tech Odessa logo
School Founded	2011
Team Established	2012
History	New Tech Odessa has had 4 repeated state appearances 2022 (San Antonio) 2023(Frisco) 2024(San Antonio) 2025(Frisco)
City	Odessa, Texas
Team Colors	Teal
Principal	Abel Avila
Head Coach	Yoana Picazo (2024-), Damian Betancourt Gaytan (???-2024), Bernadette Barragan (???-2022)
Associate/Other Head Coach(es)	Neftali Silva (2024-), Georgina Figueroa (2022-2024)
National Championships	None
State Championships	None
Regional/County Championships	3 (2022, 2024, 2025)
Region/County Location	Regionals/Texas/Region I
Highest Finish	3rd in Online Nationals 2024
School Website	https://nto.ectorcountyisd.org/

New Tech Odessa

George H. W. Bush New Tech Odessa High School is a New Tech Network high school based in Odessa, Texas. The small school with less than 500 students has made great strides in academic services within the Ector County Independent School Districts and continues pursuing a higher education for all its students. In light of this journey, the school joined the Academic Decathlon Competition 2012 and continues to make history, breaking records, getting medals, and representing the great state of Texas.

NTO has had numerous prominent placements in their relatively short years of operation with 5 state competition appearances (2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), with 4 being podium finishes (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), a podium finish at Online Nationals (2024), and 4 regional championships (2016,2022,2024,2025).

Dedicated to the Coaches

Damian Gaytan: Mr. Gaytan was a cornerstone of the New Tech Odessa Academic Decathlon program and made the program what it is today. With his consistent leadership, open mind, and compassionate personality, he upheld what Academic Decathlon stands for: The cohesion of different groups to unite as a single force and compete as a family. Gaytan in his numerous years at NTO was a symbol of connection and motivation which propelled his students forward to achieve success at not only the state level but even the national level. "Thank you so much for everything you have done for us Mr. Gaytan, we love you!" - NTO ACADEC

Georgina Figueroa: Ms. Fig, although limited in her time with the Academic Decathlon team was an irreplaceable member of the program, with her ability to communicate, intake information, and teach compassionately to all her students, she was able to support the team into numerous state competitions and well into a podium placement in the national competition. Her unique ability to take in the emotions of the students on the team created an unforgettable environment in which a family was born. Her honesty, intelligence, and compassion, are something the students who were coached by her will carry with them their entire lives. "Ms. Fig no matter what future endeavors and adversity you face, we know you will succeed, just as you have taught us to do. We love you with all our hearts!" - NTO ACADEC

Team History

In the year 2023, the team was led by Esequiel Gutierrez (varsity) and joined by Adrian Rodriguez (honors), Joel Ramos (honors), Alexandra Becerra-Nieto (honors), Kevin Enriquez (scholastic), Eva Herrera (scholastic), Rohan Reed (scholastic), and finally, Xiara DeLeon (varsity).

In the year 2022, the team was led by Madison Hughes (honors) and joined by Isabella Fanucci-Deshawn (honors), Emily Banda (honors), and Christian Camarena (Scholastic). The 2022 team narrowly lost the 1st place position at the state competition by 200 points which ignited their underclassmen for years.

Performance Chart

Year	Region Score	Region Place	State Score	State Place	Nationals Score	Nationals Place
2025	41,608.9	1st overall, 2nd in Small	42,159.3	3rd in Small	DNQ	DNQ
2024	34,590.1	1st overall, 5th in Small	37,289.6	2nd in Small	23,783.4	3rd
2023	32,622.9	2nd overall, 6th in Small	36,213.2	1st Frisco, 2nd overall	DNQ	DNQ
2022	33,466.2	1st overall, 1st in Small	34,802.9	2nd in Small	DNQ	DNQ
2016	33,147	3rd overall, 7th in Small	33,650.4	8th in Small	DNQ	DNQ