A team of students from Buchholz High School has taken top honors in one of the nation’s most prestigious math competitions.

Twenty-six Buchholz students, coached by math teacher Will Frazer, won first place in the national Mu Alpha Theta competition, which attracted the top math students from throughout the U.S. The Buchholz students swept all three contest divisions, including Pre-Calculus, Calculus and Algebra II/Geometry. Those divisions include both individual and team events. The Buchholz team finished first in the ‘sweepstakes’ competition, which is awarded to the school whose students have the best overall performance. The team that wins the sweepstakes competition is crowned the national champion.

Team members also won more than 100 individual trophies at the national competition.

In April the Buchholz team took first place in the Florida Mu Alpha Theta competition. Since then team members have been meeting regularly for practice, including three-to-four hour sessions at three times a week during the summer.

"Ever since winning the state championship in April, the students have been extremely focused on winning the national competition,” said Frazer.  “I have been very proud of the time, effort, and
commitment they have shown."

Buchholz Assistant Principal David Shelnutt says this year’s win is particularly sweet because the team beat out the national powerhouse team from Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Vestavia Hills won the national championship in both 2005 and 2006, and in both years Buchholz came in second. 

“Our students were so close to winning last year, only losing by 20 points. This year, they won by over 270 points,” said Shelnutt. “These students and Mr. Frazer have done a fantastic job representing their school, district, state, and nation."