Middle schoolers tackle equations at math challenge

About 50 teams of middle schoolers competed in the third annual Southwest Washington Math Challenge on Feb. 7 at Chief Umtuch Middle School in Battle Ground. Fifth through eighth grade teams competed by grade level to solve word problems and complex equations.

In events such as the College Bowl, teams of three to four students worked together to answer questions about geometry, division, scientific notation and more.

Clark College partnered with the event to create problems for the competition. Some instructors and students from Clark College also helped score the event.

The math challenge team results are:

Fifth Grade

• Chief Team A, First Place
• Chief Team B, Second Place
• Union Ridge Team B, Third Place

Sixth Grade

• Chief Team B, First Place
• Union Ridge A, Second Place
• Union Ridge B, Third Place

Seventh Grade

• Chief Team A, First Place
• Laurin Team A, Second Place
• Daybreak Team A, Third Place

Eighth Grade

• Amboy Team B, First Place
• Laurin Team B, Second Place
• Chief Team A, Third Place

The math challenge individual results are:

Fifth Grade

• Eli Clark of Chief Umtuch, First Place
• Grant Halme of Chief Umtuch, Second Place

Sixth Grade

• Alex Forstrom of Chief Umtuch, First Place
• Tegan Petersen of Union Ridge, Second Place (tie)
• Jaelyn Sotelo of Union Ridge Second Place (tie)

Seventh Grade

• Maggie Munoz of Laurin, First Place
• Amber Holmgren of Pleasant Valley, Second Place

Eighth Grade

• Leah Sarkinen of Amboy, First Place
• Jayson Maddux of Laurin, Second Place