Ocean County Students Compete in Battle of Math Skills

Thirty minutes of silence enveloped the Toms River High School East cafeteria, as a group of 250 high school students from Ocean County concentrated on fibonacci numbers, positive integers and cylinders.

Such was the scene earlier today when the Ocean County Math League held its sixth and final high school county competition of the year.

Sixteen schools took advantage of the opportunity to test math skills against their peers.

Co-Chairperson of the Ocean County Math League Mark Geiger flashed back to when he was a student at Toms River High School South in the 1990s and participated in the event. “It was fun for me. It’s great giving back [to the students],” he said.

Each of the six sessions contained six questions that the students answered on paper within 30 minutes. Scores were carried over to each session then tabulated after the last competition.

Schools are separated into two divisions, an A and B, according to school size.

“It’s kind of exciting this year because there’s a four-way tie for first place. It’s an exciting finish,” Geiger said.

Tied for first in the A division were Jackson Memorial, Lacey, Toms River East and Toms River North. In the B division the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science held the lead.

Unofficial results being tabulated by Geiger after the end of the session showed Toms River North in first place and Lacey in a close second for the A division. B division winners appeared to be MATES in first place and Monsignor Donovan in second place.

Individual winners and the official results will be announced at an awards dinner and pizza party next month, according to Geiger.

Students said they took part in the competition because the camaraderie brought a sense of fun to math.  “I only did it the last two years. But I’m glad I decided to join,” said Erin McGuire, a senior at Lacey Township High School. She said the math practice should help her with her anticipated major of nutrition in the college years.

Henry Carnick, a freshman at LTHS, said he didn’t feel intimidated being around so many upper classmen. “It doesn’t feel that overwhelming. I learned so much stuff at the competitions,” he said.

The standings going into today’s session for the A division were Jackson Memorial, Lacey Township, Toms River High School East and Toms River High School North all tied for first place. They were followed in order by Brick Township, Toms River High School South, Central Regional and Brick Memorial.

The B Division was lead by MATES and followed by in order Manchester Township, Monsignor Donovan, Point Pleasant Borough, Jackson Liberty, Barnegat Township, Point Pleasant Beach and Pinelands.

Patch will list the official winners and post photographs after the awards dinner in April.