The Polk County Middle School MATHCOUNTS team competed in the Western Carolina MATHCOUNTS Competition on Saturday, Feb. 4 at T.C. Roberson High School in Arden. The students placed 13th out of 32 schools. The MATHCOUNTS Competition is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging “bee” style contests. The program is supported by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Consisting of fun and creative problems that promote critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, the MATHCOUNTS competitions have written and oral rounds, as well as individual and team components. The full team includes (back row from left to right): Sam Murray, Colleen Burke, Sammie Haase, Drew Bailey and Laura Campuzano-Gomez; (front row from left to right): Brett Phipps, Brianna Richardson, Savannah Jackson and Conner McCarthy. Four students, Conner McCarthy, Sam Murray, Colleen Burke and Sammie Haase, represented PCMS as the official competition team. (photo submitted by Kenneth Alexander, MATHCOUNTS coach)