CCA rules Mathcounts chapter competition

Calvary Christian Academy ruled the 2009 Mathcounts chapter competition, sweeping the top honors both in team and individual rankings.

The team bested 13 other participating middle schools from private and public institutions that entered nearly 150 students in the competition, held Saturday at the Multi-Purpose Center.

Garnering the highest group score of 50.75, Calvary Christian Academy Team A was adjudged this year’s chapter team champion against second best team players from Marianas Baptist Academy Team A, which got 47.75 overall score.

CCA’s Team B became the third best team by recording 44.5 percent, while Saipan International School Team A was named fourth team winner, garnering 40.5 percentage.

The tandem of CCA brothers Ji Hoon Choi and Won Woo Choi added some highlights to the competition with both ruling the countdown round, where the top 10 finalists competed against each other.

After eliminating opponents mostly in the contest’s sudden-death victory rule, Ji Hoon Choi was adjudged the overall individual winner, while his brother Won Woo Choi emerged second best player.

Also in the top 10 were SIS’ Hyeon Joon Jun; MBA’s Suk Koo Kim; MBA’s Hye Young Oh; Mount Carmel School’s Feng Liang Lizama; CCA’s Min Jeong Jang; CCA’s Han Sol Yu; Saipan Community School’s Eron Constante; and MBA’s Se Young Hwang.

Mathcounts, organized by EFC Engineer & Architects, is an annual competition that challenges students at their high-level mathematical ability and gives them the opportunity to compete at the national level.

Martha Camacho, chapter and state Mathcounts coordinator, said they are elated at the success of the event, which marked its 15th year in the CNMI.

“It ran really smoothly, everybody knew their roles…and we’re happy to see the success of Mathcounts here,” she told Saipan Tribune, adding that they’re expecting a more challenging round in the state competition slated for next month.

The top four individual winners in the state contest will represent the Commonwealth at the national level. The 2009 Mathcounts national competition will be held in Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Florida in May.

To qualify for the state rounds, each participating school is entitled to enter two teams with a maximum of four members for each group.

Camacho said the Mathcounts competition motivates students to do upper level math, measures higher thinking skills of participants, and provides a venue and opportunity for young talents to practice their mathematical capabilities.

CCA’s teacher coach Vanesa Pritchard said Saturday’s honor was a result of the students’ hard work and patience.

“We’ve been practicing since September and I made up a little curriculum of different things we want to cover throughout our practice,” she said of the strategy used by team members who went home victorius.

Pritchard was also elated at the “honor” given by brothers Ji Hoon Choi and Won Woo Choi.

“Those two boys are really gifted,” she shared.

Pritchard is optimistic that CCA teams will show up at the state contest with more preparations and practice.

“We will continue practicing and increase a little bit our preparation for the state competition,” she said.

EFC is grateful to all the community supporters who helped make Saturday’s event possible. These include major sponsors DFS Saipan, Chong’s Corp., Bridge Capital LLC, IT&E, Subway, Coca Cola, Foremost, Joeten Charitable Foundation, Deloitte & Touche, National Office Supply, Tae Woo, and Yonsei Academy.