Local ‘mathletes’ solve tough problems for scholarship dollars

POCATELLO — Times up! Pencils down.

Those words and the sound of some 200 pencils hitting tables marked the end of a round at this year’s MATHCOUNTS competition at Idaho State University. Several hundred sixth, seventh and eighth grade “mathletes” spent Saturday competing against each other for scholarship money.

“I like math. It is pretty fun,” said Garren Huckaby, an eighth grader from Malad Middle School. “Especially algebra because it doesn’t make sense until the very end.”

MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide math contest where schools send teams of 10 to compete against each other. But before students go to nationals they must compete in regional competitions, like the one in Pocatello. Saturday’s chapter-wide contest involved schools from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Malad, Blackfoot, Mackay, Rexburg and Rigby.

The competition included several different math rounds where students competed solo or on teams in different styles to test their math skills. Math questions are advanced, but are still appropriate for middle school students.

The contest concluded with 16 individual winners and five teams that will move on to the state competition in Boise on March 12. The top ten winners also receive scholarships to ISU in amounts ranging from $500 to $1,500.

“We call them mathletes and coaches because they work hard and compete as individuals and teams,” event organizer Krystal Chanda said. “We are trying to get more attention to math and how important it is.”

Chanda and nearly 50 other volunteers helped with the event to make it possible for kids to compete. Several sponsors donated to the event. This year, Monsanto donated a large portion of the cost of the event.

Malad Middle School Coach Kathy Atkinson said her school offers classes where students can prepare for the competition. Training involves games, speed rounds and “Test Tuesday”. She said kids love the competition and most of them stay in the program as long as they can.

“The event gets better and better. They do a great job every year,” Atkinson said.

WINNERS

A team of middle school mathletes from Franklin Middle School in Pocatello won the competition overall. The top individual was Francis Peng from Franklin Middle School in Pocatello. Members of the winning team are: Keagan Satterfield, Ricardo Calderon, Francis Peng and Mandi Xu, coached by Joseph Martin.

A total of 16 individuals will advance to the state competition.

The top individuals included:

• 16th Samuel Morring from Madison Middle School, Rexburg.
• 15th Natalia Lewis from Malad Middle School, Malad.
• 14th Joseph Klinger fro Rigby Middle School, Rigby.
• 13th Thomas Thorton from Rigby Middle School, Rigby.
• 12th Kaiden Long from Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho Falls.
• 11th Eliza O’Connor from Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho Falls.
• 10th Sean Devine from Grace Lutheran, Pocatello.
• 9th Alex Whilhelm from Holy Spirit Catholic School, Pocatello.
• 8th Keaton Folsom from Mountain View Middle School, Blackfoot.
• 7th Craig Holm from Hawthorne Middle School, Pocatello.
• 6th Audry Mullen from Alameda Middle School, Pocatello.
• 5th J.D. Atkinson from Malad Middle School, Malad.
• 4th Dallin Gordon from Madison Junior High, Rexburg.
• 3rd William Yik from Grace Lutheran, Pocatello.
• 2nd Mandi Xu from Franklin Middle School, Pocatello.
• 1st Francis Peng from Franklin Middle School, Pocatello.

The Top teams include:

• 5th Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho Falls.
• 4th Hawathorn Middle School, Pocatello.
• 3rd Malad Middle School, Malad.
• 2nd Grace Lutheran, Pocatello.
• 1st Franklin Middle School, Pocatello.