At universities and high schools across the state on Saturday, high school students flexed their mental muscles at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ regional competitions. One of 21 regional contest sites, Western Illinois University welcomed mathletes from Macomb, Pittsfield, United, West Central, Illini West, Alleman and Virginia school districts.

Working with paper and pencil — and in some instances with a calculator — in teams of two or eight and covering algebra, geometry and pre-calculus, 50 Macomb Senior High students participated. On May 4, they will advance to the state competition on the University of Illinois campus.

For the Macomb Senior High’s math teachers and students, the competition about more than solving problems.

“I do this a lot to just to hang out with friends and then also for the math,” said Abraham Matlak, an MHS senior who has competed for four years. “So it’s the social interaction as well as the competition.”

Matlak, who plans to study biology after high school, readily admits, “I love taking tests.” He has gone on the state level in every ICTM math competition he’s participated in and prefers algebra over geometry and calculus.

Macomb High School math teacher Julia Burns said Macomb students have always performed well in math.

“They do very well, and a lot of kids study on their own,” she said. “We advance kids when they’re ready to advance, which really prepares them for this competition as well.”

WIU has hosted the regional competition for a number of years. John Chisholm, associate professor of mathematics, said the math department works to welcome the participating school districts and gives out prizes and tee-shirts to students.

“There’s a lot of good students, and there’s a fair number of students who participate just for the experience,” he said. “We try and be welcoming. The more students who are interested in math, the better.”

-By Lainie Steelman
McDonough County Voice