Over 150 middle school students from 18 schools recently gathered at Calvert High School for the 31st Annual MATHCOUNTS competition in Southern Maryland. This event, held on Saturday, February 5, 2025, brought together young math enthusiasts to showcase their problem-solving skills in a fast-paced and intellectually stimulating environment. The competition provided an opportunity for these students to flex their mathematical muscles and vie for top honors, with the ultimate goal of advancing to the statewide competition.
MATHCOUNTS is a national program dedicated to fostering mathematical excellence among middle school students. It serves as a launching pad for budding mathematicians who are passionate about pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With an impressive track record, the program boasts that three out of four MATHCOUNTS alumni go on to major in STEM fields, a statistic that surpasses the national average by nearly threefold.
The competition kicked off with the sprint round, where participants tackled 30 questions individually to test their speed and accuracy. This was followed by the target round, a segment that challenged students to solve complex problems under timed conditions. The culmination of the event was the countdown round, a high-stakes, head-to-head battle of wits where the top 12 competitors faced off in a rapid-fire round of math questions.
In the individual competition, Zac Gingue and Jacob Byun from Northern Middle School emerged as the standouts, clinching the first and second spots, respectively. The countdown round saw Zebulun Gaines from Windy Hill Middle School emerge victorious, with Tigran Krbashyan from The Calverton School following closely behind as the runner-up.
Teamwork was a key element in the final round, where groups of four students collaborated to tackle a series of challenging problems within a limited timeframe. Northern Middle School took the top spot in the team competition, with a stellar performance by team members Jacob Byun, Julio (JJ) Castillo, Zac Gingue, and Gage Reese, under the guidance of coach Kathy Dempster. Windy Hill Middle School secured second place, led by coach Carrie Pendleton and featuring Tobias Dorn, Zebulun Gaines, Liam Horn, and Eleanor Sinclair. Spring Ridge Middle School rounded out the top three teams, showcasing the talents of Jack Flaherty, Austin Frazier, Oscar Neto, and Alex Vo, guided by coach Michele Atwell.
The success of the competition would not have been possible without the support of sponsors SMECO and the public school systems of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. Volunteers from SMECO played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the event, from scoring tests to facilitating a seamless competition experience for all participants.
Moving forward, the winners of the Southern Maryland chapter competition will advance to the Maryland state MATHCOUNTS contest at McDonogh School in Owings Mills. The top four individual competitors from this event will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May for the national championship, marking a significant milestone in their mathematical journeys.
