Middle school students with Surry County Schools gathered at Meadowview Middle School on Wednesday afternoon to test their skills in the MATHCOUNTS competition.

The MATHCOUNTS students, called “mathletes,” participated in four rounds of math quizzes. After the rounds were completed, Pilot Mountain Middle School was announced as the school with the most points.

Nearly 30 students from Central Middle School, Gentry Middle School, Meadowview Middle School, and Pilot Mountain Middle School participated in the competition that took close to 3 hours to complete.

First was the sprint round, where the students had 40 minutes to complete 30 math problems. The target round was next with four pairs of problems, then the team round was completed. The final round was the countdown round, where students from each school competed to see who could answer questions correctly the quickest.

Nancy Hetrick, instructional specialist for middle school math teachers at Surry County Schools, explained the purpose of the district-wide event to parents present. She said, “The sole purpose is to really give your children practice for the regional event.”

Now the teams will go on to the regional MATHCOUNTS competition which takes place on Feb. 20 at Philo Middle School in Winston-Salem. Winning teams at that event will then move on to the state level.

“It’s a fun day,” said Hetrick of the regional competition.

Dorothy Sullivan is an eighth-grade math and science teacher at Pilot Mountain Middle School. She is the sponsor, or coach, for the MATHCOUNTS team there.

Sullivan said of the program, “It helps them develop their math skills, and its enriches what they are getting in the schools.”

She was pleased with her team’s first-place finish. Sullivan said, “They worked hard for it. They wanted it. They did their best.”

Byron Voigt, Sullivan’s assistant, said, “She really teaches these kids how to be quick thinkers, and that’s the key for all of this.”

At the district-wide competition that took place on Wednesday, Hetrick said they tried to mimic the setting of the regional competition.

“They face some stiff competition when they go down there,” she said.

Phyllis Watson of Central Middle School has been helping with the program for 20 or more years. She said Surry County usually has one or two teams that finish in the top eight at regionals. Generally 25 to 30 teams compete.

Hetrick explained, “These are some really bright kids.”

She said it was important for Surry County students to go to these regional competitions and see that there are other bright kids out there, that it’s cool to be smart.

Hetrick said the MATHCOUNTS program helps students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills and gives them the chance to bond with other children who think like they do.

“And mainly, it’s moving them forward,” said Hetrick.

The MATHCOUNTS program can be found throughout the nation. It is open to sixth through eighth grade students. Eight students can compete on a team at competitions.

For more information about MATHCOUNTS, visit mathcounts.org.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.