LTHS Mathletes bound for state tourney

It’s enough for most people to balance their checkbooks every month and figure their federal tax returns, but the Lyons Township High School Mathletes tackle some more difficult problems. In fact, the LT Mathletes finished second in the Regional Competition and qualified the entire 40-person team to advance to the State Math Tournament May 3. Individual and teams of students will compete in 12 different contests.
 
 
The Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) sponsors two contests per year. The first contest is the Regional Mathematics Contest, with approximately 260 schools in Illinois participating. Winners from those Regional contests are then invited to the State Mathematics Contest, held in early May at the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign.  
 
 
Mathletes at LT practice twice a week starting in September, compared to the other regional winners that may practice every day nearly all year long. “LT is an underdog every year. While we are serious competitors, our team members are so involved in other activities we cannot practice every day like some of the powerhouses. Our ability to dominate the West Suburban Conference and our consistent showing at state competitions are true testaments to our kids and their abilities,” said coach Jennifer Szczceniak. 
 
 
Students will face a variety of contests at the tournament, including grade level written competitions with 20 questions in 50 minutes, speed rounds with bonus points for the team who answers first, and a relay contest that requires four students to use their teammates’ answer to a previous question to solve the subsequent part of a problem.