Lee Middle School’s Math Team for the third year in a row took first place in regional competition during the 2016 season.
“It is the first time team members finished so strongly individually that they swept the West Georgia regional competitions, held in February. The team took every first place trophy at the regional competition,” said school system spokesman Dean Jackson.
Lee’s Math Team for the 2015-16 year consisted of students Michael Kim, Josh White, Luke Hanks, Mizuki Harvey, Owen Collins, Sunny Lee, Sun Moon, Michael An, Nathan White and Jason Nix. Team members competed against 40 students of the school’s math club to earn their spots on the competition team.
According to Jackson, of the 90 students at the regional competitions this year, Lee had three Top 5 finishers and four in the Top 10. Michael Kim took First Place for the top individual score. He was closely followed by teammates Josh White, who had the 4th highest score and Sun Moon who had the 5th highest. The top eight scores from the individual test then go on to a Countdown Round competition in front of the audience using a bracket system to compete in pairs with a buzz in answer system. All three of the Lee Teammates advanced through the brackets and when the final bracket was displayed teammates Michael Kim and Josh White faced off for the First Place Countdown Round Honor. Michael Kim edged his teammate out to capture the third and final First Place Honor available at the competition, Jackson said.
“We are so proud of the whole team, but especially Michael’s effort,” said Coach Lynette Hanus. “We have had a first place individual score before and a first place countdown winner before, but we have never had anyone capture both titles.”
Michael Kim, Josh White, Luke Hanks and Mizuki Harvey travelled to Georgia Tech on March 21 to compete as the West Georgia Region’s Team. Teammate Sun Moon finished strongly enough to with them to participate as a West Georgia Individual Competitor, said Jackson.
Eight out of 10 of the Lee Math Team competitors finished in the Top 25 individually, with the whole team placing in the top half. Mizuki Harvey just missed the countdown round with a 9th place finish. Jason Nix and Sunny Lee tied with a 20th place finish and Nathan White placed 25th.
