Finley MathCounts Team Competes in Great Neck

It all adds up and then some for the J. Taylor Finley Middle School MathCounts team, which participated in its chapter competition last weekend.

“More than 30 students tried out for the team by taking a test,” said math teacher Abigail Simon, who coaches the team along with department colleague Denise Grodzicki. Seventh grader Owen Hoffman and eighth graders Dylan Goodwin, Harrison Jennings, Gavin Kline, Hunter Kline, Heath Patti and Bennett Wagner earned the top scores to make the squad.

The competition is designed to build problem-solving skills and foster achievement through levels of fun, in-person “bee” style contests.”

Finley MathCounts team members participated in weekly after school practices from November through January to practice the different competition rounds.

Chapter competition this past Saturday, February 8 at Great Neck North Middle School. “Our students participated in the sprint, target, and team rounds, which were a mixture of calculator vs. no calculator style problems,” Ms. Grodzicki said.

Participating districts included Jericho, Syosset, Herricks, Great Neck, Manhasset and several middle schools from Queens. “Although no Huntington students advanced to the next round we are very proud of their efforts,” Ms. Simon said.

The team will compete again at the Math Masters Invitational at West Islip in March.