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‘Mathletes’ Calculate Success at Field Day in Ohio County

Photo Provided Steenrod Elementary School student Haylen Cook is shown in an estimation room of Ohio County Math Field Day held Monday at Wheeling Park High School.

Memorizing and applying mathematical formulas equaled success for more than 200 students who competed Monday at Ohio County Math Field Day at Wheeling Park High School.

“Mathletes” in grades 4-12 put their skills to the test in one of the state’s most challenging academic events.

“Math Field day is a competition involving mental math and estimation skills. We hope these skills are ones they can use in the real world,” said Sue Hvizdos, director of Ohio County Math Field Day and math teacher at Wheeling Park.

Winners will advance to the RESA 6 Math Field Day, which will take place March 25 at Wheeling Park High School.

“If you try hard enough, you can achieve what you want,” Robert Miller, a Wheeling Park freshman who took home a medal for his grade level, said.

Math Field Day competitions are held throughout the state. Ohio County students who placed in the top four at their respective grade level in grades 4-9, and the top 10 finishers in grades 10-12, advance to the regional competition. The West Virginia State Math Field Day contest is April 22 at West Virginia University.

Wheeling Central Catholic High School freshman Max Schmidt said it was nice to see a competition that was not waged with brawn, but brains.

“It is nice to know that there is always a place for a students of the mind over the body,” Schmidt, who won a second-place trophy for his grade level, said.

Elementary school students impressed with their ability to conjure up complex equations in their head.

“These students enjoy mental math and math competitions,” said Kathy Syphers, math coach at Madison Elementary. “This is a great opportunity for them to start building these skills so they will be prepared for middle school.”

Students at Madison Elementary not only studied math during school hours, but they attended special math skills “training” before classes started early Friday mornings.

“I learned a lot from this experience, like how to measure ounces and to calculate the area off the top of a box that was used for Christmas decorations,” said Kayleicia Shaw, a fourth-grade student at Madison Elementary.

Woodsdale Elementary students studied high school-level algebra and more to prepare for the competition, according to Principal Ashlea Minch. Some of the school’s math stars have not only made the grade locally, but at the state level last year.

“I thought it was pretty easy,” said Grant Kenamond, a fifth-grade student at Woodsdale Elementary who took home a first place overall trophy for his class level.

The Prather sisters also took home top honors from Math Field Day.

“I had to do the numbers in my head. Math is fun,” said Kathryn Prather, a fifth-grade student at Woodsdale Elementary who was an estimation award winner and second-place overall finalist for her grade level.

Prather’s older sister, Mary, a Wheeling Park junior, was a second-place overall finalist.

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