Larkin students head to state math finals

Submitted by U-46

Two Larkin High School students have advanced to the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2013 State Finals. Senior Mitch Pepa and junior Allison Rychtanek placed second at regionals in the Oral Team category, qualifying them for the state finals.

“I think Mitch and Allison are both very excited to be going to the state finals and to be representing Larkin High School,” said Math Team coach Liam Keigher. “They know there is much work yet to be done.”

Both are now preparing for the state finals on Saturday, May 4, at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. Pepa and Rychtanek are meeting twice a week before school studying chapters from “Elementary Vector Geometry.” The State Finals Oral Topic is vectors. They are also preparing for the competition with old contests on similar topics.

“I am excited for them and I’m extremely proud of their dedication to learning this material and putting in the practice time. Their early mornings are paying off,” Keigher said.

It’s been two years since Larkin High School students have advanced to state.

Pepa and Rychtanek also placed second in the junior-senior two-person team event at Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2013 Regional Contest, but only first place qualifies for the state finals in that event.

Seventeen Larkin High School students participated in the regional contest at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Feb. 23. Students were given questions and had 10 minutes to come up with their solutions. Then, they had seven minutes to present their answers to the judges. Participants are then given extemporaneous questions for the final three minutes. The junior-senior eight-person team placed second and the Geometry Team placed third at regionals.