Wakefield Math Team Wins State Championship in Undefeated Season

Each week, Wakefield Patch will select a Whiz Kid of the Week.

 Wakefield Patch's Whiz Kid of the Week for April 1:

• Name: Wakefield High Math Team
• Age: 15-18
• School: Grades 9 -12, Wakefield High School

 Why they are Whiz Kids:

The Wakefield High School Math team won the Division III State Championship two weeks ago. Wakefield went undefeated on the season, most recently beating out Billerica, Burlington, Hamilton-Wenham, Lynnfield, Masconomet, North Andover, and Swampscott at Lynnfield High.

Teacher advisor Mary Ellen Zaremba said during a recognition ceremony in front of the school committee last week how proud she was of the team. 

"We’ve moved up divisons which is an incredible feat," she said. "Several years back we were down at the bottom of Division IV and now we’re at the top of Division III so in my mind that’s an incredible accomplishment for our students. They worked hard, they like being there and winning is an extra bonus for us all."

Ten people compete at a time. Only four team members are allowed to be seniors, and only 8 upperclassmen are allowed at all, meaning younger students must also compete. Each person competes in three rounds. Later, the team competes in one round all together, where they must answer three questions in ten minutes.

"We’re one of the few teams of advisors that we have no say in who goes in what round," said Zaremba. "Most of the other coaches are particular, however our team has been so successful in their own determiniation that we leave it to them leave it to the captains as to who should be placed where."

"What an incredible year this has been, academically, musically, theatrically," said School Committee member Anthony Guardia. "It really speaks to the incredible talent we have in our school, and the teachers that make it all possible."

The 2011 WHS Math Team:

Grade 10

Kelly Broderick –Sander
Sarah Boland
Mike Harney
John Hanron
Nenita Hiller
Benedict Li
Olivia McCaffrey
Nicholas Perry
Patrick Sullivan

Grade 11
Shira Faigel
Tyler MacGrogan
Paul Maschhoff
Eric Shea
Neal Suh
Kerry Synan
Stephanie Wallace
Michael Winsor
Nicole Wu

Grade 12
Regan Broderick-Sander (captain)
Adam Callanan
Andrew Krevat
Alex MacGrogan
Andrew Wensley (captain)

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 Do you know a Whiz Kid?

Wakefield Patch is currently seeking Wakefield kids who have done something cool, amazing, kind, remarkable – anything that made you say "Wow!"

It could be in the classroom, on the athletic field or helped out a good cause. They could be the next Wakefield Patch Whiz Kid.

Each week, Wakefield Patch will highlight one child or group in the Whiz Kids feature. We need your help to find these accomplished individuals. Tell us about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.

Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to editor Sara Jacobi at sara.jacobi@patch.com.  Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

 If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you to ask for a photo and further information.