Souhegan Math Team Named Division Champs

By Christina Len

While the SHS Math Club is a group of self-proclaimed math fanatics, it is also a diverse group with soccer players, baseball players, community council members and musicians. The SHS Math club has been very successful over the past few years, just recently placing first in one of their NH-SMASH (New Hampshire Southern Mathematics Association of Senior Highs) league events. The SMASH League consists of five meets.  Students from over twenty New Hampshire high schools compete in both individual and group events.  Students are placed in a classroom and must answer a set of math problems in a specified amount of time. The math problems are selected from one of five categories: Arithmetic, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Advanced Math.  “These are not simple math problems, they involve a level of higher order thinking”, states the Math Club advisor, Lee Gast.

Lee has been the Math Club Advisor for the past four years.  He believes the events are not just great mathematical challenges, but they are also an opportunity for great comradery among students from all over the state.  “While students are waiting in the cafeteria for their next match, they talk to students from other schools about how they approached a certain problem or what strategy they used for finding the answer. Though the competition itself is very competitive, the students have a lot of fun and enjoy interacting with others who share their love of mathematics.”  Julie Kellendorfer, a junior on the math team, states, “I love going to the Math meets because different kinds of kids from all different kinds of schools are all working towards the same answer.  I don’t hesitate to ask the kid next to me looking at the answer sheet ‘How did you get that?’  Even within your own team we are asking each other and learning from each other.  It is exciting!”

Souhegan competes against many schools including Trinity and Hollis, but one of their biggest rivals is St. Paul’s. On Feb. 6, Souhegan hosted the final SMASH meet with over 400 students in attendance.  Not only did the Souhegan Math Team finish first in this meet, they finished the season as the 2013 Class M division champions. They will end their season by participating in the State Championship at Plymouth State College at the end of March. The state meet includes schools from all over NH.  Trophies are awarded to the top three schools.  Souhegan placed 2nd in 2011, and 3rd in 2012, and they are striving for a top three finish again this year!