For a lot of high school students, words like “algebra”, “geometry” and “calculus” are unsettling. Math is a subject that a lot of teenagers struggle with, a subject that a lot of teenagers resent. Once the clock hits 2:05 pm and the final bell rings, students are relieved that they won’t have to worry about slopes, parabolas, or finding the volume of a triangular prism for the rest of the day. But, it’s different for the “mathletes” of Woodland.
The Woodland Math Team include students with a spectrum of different opinions on math. Some find it easy; others, rather challenging. Some love it; others, despise it. However, they are all on the team in hopes to improve and learn more about the infinitely expansive field of mathematics.
The team has increased a significant amount since the 2017-2018 season, to a point where sometimes, the room doesn’t have enough seats for everyone. Freshman are joining in hopes of getting extra credit to boost their subpar grades, but end up realizing that the greater gift is actually improving in the subject. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are recruiting friends to join. People are ditching the “I-can’t-join-the-Math-Team-because-I’m-not-good-at-math” mentality and developing a new “I-want-to-join-the-Math-Team-so-I-can-improve-at-math” perspective. The team has grown to become one of the biggest extracurriculars in the school.[pullquote]For a lot of high school students, words like “algebra”, “geometry” and “calculus” are unsettling. Not Woodland’s math team.[/pullquote]
Although Math Team might not be a sport that requires physical activity, a ball, or a racquet, the team does a fantastic job of franchising themselves in the Region 16 and Woodland. This was the first year where the team pushed out different types of merchandise besides a simple t-shirt. The team started off slow, with a release of windbreaker jackets. Next year, they are looking to expand the range of apparel and merchandise along with fundraising and promoting themselves.
The team excelled in their competitions. The highest place the team has placed in out of four competitions is second place, only a couple points away from getting first. Next year, the team is looking to secure first place.
“The team has great potential to come in first,” Captain David Michaud remarked. “We just need to really bring it out.” This season has also been the first season where the Math Team qualified for states. They battled against the best math teams in the state, facing the hardest challenge they ever had.
Overall, the Woodland Math Team had a very successful season. The team had excellent performance in meets and made themselves known to the school and community. In the past couple years, the team has grown from only a couple members to dozens of aspiring students. However, students like Michaud and Schwarz are graduating so the upcoming members have big shoes to fill. They are ready to make the next season a good one too.
Captain and graduating senior Charlie Schwarz has enjoyed his time on the team.
“Being a part of the team has been super fun,” Schwarz reveals. “I’m so proud of everyone who put in the time to help the team succeed this year.”
