Larkin students qualify for state math championship

Three Larkin High School students have qualified to compete in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2014 State Championship. Senior Allison Rychtanek will compete in the individual pre-calculus category. Larkin's freshman/sophomore two-person team made up of sophomores also advanced to state after tying for first place at the regional competition Feb. 22.

"Advancing to the state competition is proof of our students' hard work and dedication," said Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent José M. Torres. "It's an impressive accomplishment."

On Feb. 22, the Larkin Math Team competed at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional competition at Rock Valley College in Rockford. Larkin's pre-calculus team placed second. The Junior/Senior eight-person cooperative team also placed second. Larkin senior Allison Rychtanek tied for fourth individually in the pre-calculus competition.

"I'm so proud of the progress and success of our entire team this year," said math team coach Liam Keigher. "This is the first time since 2008, that our freshman/sophomore two-person team has won the regional competition. They had their best score of the season."

The three students who qualified are now preparing for the state finals on May 3 at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. They meet at least once a week for one hour; they also take materials home to practice.

Last year, Allison Rychtanek competed at the state finals in the oral team category. She is also the president of Larkin's chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national mathematics honor society. Allison organizes and runs the annual Middle School Invitational Math Contest that Larkin hosts in April.