Beyond the numbers: Laconia High math team nabs 1st in state competition

LACONIA — Ten of Laconia High School's 18 Math Team students recently competed in a state tournament, reaching beyond the numbers and leaving from NHTI victorious. Placing first out of eight teams in their division, the students earned themselves recognition amidst their peers, medals, and enjoyed the learning opportunity.

They knew they were securing first place by the time they got on the bus to head back to the City on the Lakes, thanks to real-time scoring updates via Google docs.

“So the kids, by the time we got on the bus, they're like, ‘Miss Cook, I think we're in first place.’ I'm like, ‘Are you kidding me?” said Kerry Cook, math teacher at LHS, who also serves as one of the coaches to the team. “They're watching in real time on the way home.

"They were so excited.”

The team’s other coach is fellow Laconia math teacher Sydney Miles.

The competing students were Hayden Cardinal, Elijah Choice, Abby Dea, Amaya Dutile, Paul Ganchi, Cooper Mousseau, Holden Mousseau, Ruhan Pradhan, William Stafford and Asher Svindland. They all contributed to the top score in March, in Concord.

“They were so proud of themselves,” Cook said.

The competition isn’t like in the movies. There are no on-the-spot questions, no chance for humiliation. A topic sheet is handed out for practices ahead of competition, and students practice from October to March.

During regular competitions, “Our kids go into a room with a bunch of other kids, and they sit for 10 minutes, and they answer three questions in those 10 minutes all by themselves. [It’s] very quiet and it’s focused,” Cook said. “What I like about it is that students are never put on the spot. It's very much designed for students to feel they can access it. That they can be successful, that they can try. We just want them to try.”

State competitions are a little different. No topic sheet is handed out. Instead of three questions, students have six; an essay question is also required. They have 45 minutes to complete as much as possible.

“The questions are much more difficult,” said Miles.

“The individual categories that they compete in at the state meet, it's called recreational math. It's like really complicated number theory questions usually,” Cook said, clarifying there are also questions related to algebra, geometry and advanced math.

The biggest factor is perseverance. If a student doesn’t know the answer, yet still attempts to solve a question, there are no lost points, but instead the possibility to gain some for trying.

Objectively, students are selected for competition based on scores at meets held throughout the school year, as part of the Lakes Region Math League.

In an interview, the two math team coaches shared highlights of their recent win. Miles had previously coached the Newfound Math Team, part of the LRML, while Cook worked with Franklin High School.

Both teachers are celebrating their inaugural year with LHS, so the win feels extra special.

Two of the competing students, Dea and Pradhan, were invited to represent the Granite State in the American Regions Mathematics League. They received a plaque for their hard work.

“ARML is regarded as one of the most prestigious math competitions held in the USA. Each year, more than 120 teams from across the country and around the world participate. They will go to Saint Anselm College May 29-30, to meet their fellow NH team members and socialize/network Friday night, then compete all day Saturday,” Miles wrote in an email following the interview.

Looking forward, the two coaches hope to bring back a scholarship for math-focused students, which sort of petered out, and award one during the 2026-27 school year.

“We want kids to participate, and we don't want anybody to think that it's all elitist and you're not allowed, you know, you don't fit around here. We want everybody to jump in and give it a try. Just give it a try. That's what we tell them every time. Just try, right?” Cook said. “It's a good experience for them to be challenged in their thinking and like we said, meet other people, get out of your comfort zone a little, ride a free school bus, get a free math tutor.”

•••

Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.