Congratulations to our homeschool team who took first place in the team rankings out of 18 teams competing at the regional MATHCOUNTS competition.
Our scoring team was co-captained by Matthew Babbitt and Wyatt Smith, and included Preston Law, and Amanda Kettell. Their hard work and diligent problem solving has really paid off resulting in their first place ranking. Our team has now qualified to move on to the state competition.
Matthew, Preston, and Wyatt finished first, second, and third place out of 113 students competing, with 2nd and 3rd place being determined by tie-breaker. Matthew, Preston, and Wyatt participated in the very exciting top-12 countdown round, where Matthew won first place, Wyatt second place, and Preston advanced to the quarter finals.
Erin placed in the top third of competing students yesterday, and as such is our top alternate team student. Erin will be our 5th student who will move on to the state competition.
Our 2nd year veterans Maryanna Krewson and Caleb Trouwborst, along with Amanda and Jien Ogawa, All distinguished themselves by placing at or very near the top half of the participants. It should be pointed out that competing students represent the top 4 to 8 math students in area schools. Further, last year there were 26 teams competing, and this year that number fell to 18. One could easily suggest that our students competed against the top 4 - 8 students, in the top 18 schools in our area for which placing in the middle is no small achievement.
I am very proud of everyone's achievement, and especially everyone's positive attitude. I have noticed that our students have not only acquired new mathematical skill over the past few months, but they have also acquired new friends. The camaraderie between our students is self evident and is delightful to see. Our group of 24 to 30 students who regularly attend our weekly meetings all deserve a special award for their positive attitudes and enthusiasm for the challenging problems that they work on each week.
I would certainly be lost without my student coaches who have all risen to the challenge of helping other students. These fine young men and women all deserve recognition for their selfless efforts on behalf of their students. Lindsay White, Ben Kaiser, Leah Trouwborst, Neil Curwen, Will Spear and Catherine Miller have all worked tirelessly each week with our students not competing at chapter. Luke Trouwborst and Jay White worked to build the abilities of our alternate team. Schuyler Smith, and Zagreb Mukerjee worked to oversee our teams efforts during the run-up to the chapter competition. The scoring and alternate teams received online support through our Art of Problem Solving forum by both Andrew Ardito, David Rolnick, and Schuyler Smith.
I will remember my first chapter competition (as a coach) for the camaraderie of our students, the love of mathematics that they all share, and the enjoyment that was self-evident among our students. I will also remember the number of supportive students and families that came to countdown in the afternoon to cheer on heeg participants.
