MathCounts is heading to state.
Following a successful regional competition, Duncan Middle School’s MathCounts team will be heading to the state competition Saturday at Oklahoma City University. The competition will take place only weeks after their successful run at Regional.
According to a post on the Duncan Public School Facebook page, “The Oklahoma MathCounts Southwest Regional was held on February 15 at Cameron University. The Duncan Middle School MathCounts team—Canon Atchley, Kayan Patel, Parker Sanders, and Layton Toomey— placed third and secured a spot in the state competition.
“Additionally, Natalie McNabb earned a place on the All-Star team. Parker Sanders placed 2nd overall in the individual competition, with Canon Atchley following in 8th place.”
All members of the state-bound team are seventh-graders.
Among them, Patel said he feels good about qualifying for the state competition. He said he has confidence in his teammates and knows they will do well.
“The team is very smart,” Patel said.
Atchley said he has mixed emotions when it comes to the competition because he’s excited to go to state, but he’s also scared.
“I don’t know if I’m going to do good on the test,” Atchley said.
He said he did well last time, helping move his team to victory, but he felt like he guessed a lot on parts of the test.
“I feel there is pressure to win again,” he said.
The MathCounts organization and the various competitions are designed in a way to encourage a love of math, according to the MathCounts website.
According to the MathCounts website, “We make learning math fun. We believe middle school is a critical juncture when a love of math must be encouraged, and a fear of math must be overcome. Our programs build problem solving skills and positive attitudes about math, so students embrace challenges and expand their academic and career opportunities in the future.”
