Plum Grove MATHCOUNTS team ties for state title

Plum Grove Junior High's MATHCOUNTS team completed its season with a championship-caliber performance at the state competition, which was held March 12 in Matteson.

The team tied for first place with Kennedy Junior High School from Lisle and Gordon Gregory Middle School from Naperville.

However, Plum Grove was awarded third-place according to the competition's tie-breaking rules. It was Plum Grove's third consecutive top-three finish at the state MATHCOUNTS competition. The team took second place last year, and third place in 2009.

In individual competition, all four Plum Grove team members finished in the top 25 percent. Eighth-grader Jennie Yang finished in seventh place, seventh-grader Emily Jia finished 14th, seventh grader Mark Guo finished 40th, and eighth-grader Soumyaa Mazumder finished 41st.

Plum Grove's MATHCOUNTS team is coached by Marianne Schultz and Dr. Krish Revuluri.

Winston Campus Junior High's MATHCOUNTS team also qualified to compete at the state competition this year, but did not place in the team or individual rankings.

Sponsored by the Professional Society of Engineers, MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment, coaching, and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement and provides today's students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers.

Now in its 28th year, MATHCOUNTS is one of the country's largest and most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors, and students.

-Story submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15