It’s now 11 straight.
McMichael Middle School's MATHCOUNTS team secured the top spot at the combined East Texas/Pineywoods chapter competition held Feb. 14 at the University of Texas at Tyler, extending the team’s winning streak at the academic contest.
McMichael Middle School's success in Tyler has not only earned it accolades but also the opportunity to advance all six top spots at the state MATHCOUNTS competition on March 23 at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott in Irving. (This year’s state competition is taking place outside its traditional Austin venue.)
The team, led by eighth-grade co-captains Ezra Gregory and Toby Barugh, alongside teammates Darko Pantiuk and Takbeem Zamadar, demonstrated “essential partnership and cognitive expertise,” said the coach, Andy Watts.
Their efforts culminated in McMichael's victory, with Toby securing the top spot for overall individual scores. Adding to the team’s success, seventh-graders Diondre Whitaker and Andrew Turner emerged as top individual competitors, and Coach Watts was recognized as the 2024 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition 1st Place Coach of the Year.
Watts has coached the MATHCOUNTS team for its 11 years of existence, advancing to the state competition each time. The team was formed at then Mike Moses Middle School, and this is the second year at McMichael following the merging of the two campuses in 2022.
MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging "bee" style contests.
McMichael’s clean sweep this year is a milestone for the school, Watts said, and showcases the exceptional talent of the students. Watts expressed the importance of the MATHCOUNTS program, stating, “MATHCOUNTS plays a crucial role in encouraging students to engage with and excel in mathematics,” said Watts. “It provides a platform for young mathematicians to showcase their skills, fosters a love for problem-solving, and prepares them for future academic and professional success.”