The Hamilton Preparatory School Math Team returned from the Regional Mathematics Competition with impressive results, showcasing their problem-solving abilities and mathematical reasoning. Led by Math Department Chair Ms. Jennifer Wu, the 12-member team competed against 32 schools from across the region.
## Competition Results
**Team Performance:**
- **2nd Place Overall** - Team score of 487 out of 500 possible points
- **1st Place in Geometry Round** - Perfect team score
- **2nd Place in Algebra Round**
- **3rd Place in Problem-Solving Round**
**Individual Awards:**
- **Sarah Chen (Grade 11)** - 1st Place Individual, perfect score of 100, medal and $500 scholarship
- **Marcus Williams (Grade 12)** - 3rd Place Individual, score of 96
- **Emily Park (Grade 10)** - 5th Place Individual, score of 94
- **David Kim (Grade 9)** - Top Freshman Award, score of 88
## Competition Format
The competition consisted of four rounds testing different mathematical skills:
- **Sprint Round:** 30 problems in 40 minutes, testing speed and accuracy
- **Target Round:** 8 challenging problems in pairs, 6 minutes per pair
- **Team Round:** 10 difficult problems, team collaboration
- **Countdown Round:** Head-to-head single-elimination tournament for top scorers
Problems spanned algebra, geometry, number theory, combinatorics, and probability.
## Team Members
**Senior Members:**
- Marcus Williams - Team Captain, 4-year team member
- Kevin O'Brien - Specializes in geometry and number theory
- Isabella Santos - Strong in probability and statistics
**Junior Members:**
- Sarah Chen - Individual champion, excels across all areas
- Alex Rodriguez - Team round strategist
- Jordan Kim - Fast computational skills
**Sophomore Members:**
- Emily Park - Rising star, earned Top Sophomore Award
- Ryan Patel - Strong problem-solver
- Sophia Anderson - Geometry specialist
**Freshman Members:**
- David Kim - Top Freshman, impressive debut
- Emma Liu - Algebra strength
- Tyler Martinez - Number theory focus
## Preparation and Practice
The Math Team prepares year-round under Ms. Wu's guidance:
- **Weekly practice sessions:** Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-5:00 PM
- **Problem-solving workshops:** Tackling competition-level problems
- **Mock competitions:** Simulating contest conditions
- **Individual coaching:** Personalized support for team members
- **Online problem sets:** Additional practice through Art of Problem Solving
Team members dedicate 4-5 hours weekly to practice and problem-solving.
## Notable Achievements This Year
- Sarah Chen qualified for USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) - one of 230 students nationwide
- Team placed 1st at County Math Competition
- 8 team members scored in top 5% on American Mathematics Competition (AMC 10/12)
- Marcus Williams earned perfect score on AMC 12 (rare achievement)
- Team won Hamilton Math League championship
## Skills Developed
Math competition participation develops:
- Advanced problem-solving strategies
- Creative mathematical thinking
- Working under time pressure
- Collaboration and communication
- Perseverance through difficult problems
- Deeper understanding of mathematical concepts
"Competition math teaches students to think creatively and approach problems from multiple angles," noted Ms. Wu. "These skills translate beyond mathematics to any analytical field."
## Looking Ahead
The team advances to the State Mathematics Championship, competing against the top 20 teams statewide. Winners advance to national MATHCOUNTS competition.
Several team members are preparing for additional competitions:
- USA Mathematical Olympiad (for Sarah Chen and Marcus Williams)
- Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (team of 8)
- Princeton University Mathematics Competition
- Online competitions through Art of Problem Solving
## Join the Math Team
Students who enjoy mathematics and problem-solving are invited to join. The team welcomes all skill levels and provides training. Interest meeting held at the beginning of the school year.
"Whether you dream of math competitions or simply enjoy challenging problems, there's a place for you on the Math Team," said Ms. Wu.
## Alumni Success
Hamilton Math Team alumni have attended top universities including:
- MIT
- Stanford
- Harvard
- Princeton, Yale, Caltech, UC Berkeley
Many pursue STEM careers as engineers, data scientists, researchers, and educators.
The Math Team's success reflects Hamilton Preparatory School's strong mathematics program and the dedication of students who love exploring the beauty and challenge of mathematics.