Laura Geller of Minot State University, left, gives Asher Wilhelm, of Des Lacs-Burlington High School, his trophy for first place in the top three individuals from the county and their school for the MATHCOUNTS competition on Wednesday. Ciara Parizek/MDN

Students from six local area schools gathered at Minot State University for the 2024 MATHCOUNTS competition on Wednesday.

Students from Erik Ramstad Middle School, Jim Hill Middle School, Des Lacs-Burlington School, Our Redeemer’s Christian School, Memorial Middle School and Berthold School had several students competing against each other in mathematics.

After lunch, the awards ceremony was held. The students first received medals for participating in the competition, and then individual awards were given out.

Asher Wilhelm from DLB took first place in the top three individuals from the county and their school category. Isabelle Brown took second and Asher Muhs took third, both students from Memorial.

Teegan Dangel from Erik Ramstad took first place in the top three individuals from the city and their school category. Londyn Lauf from ORCS placed second and Elijah Goecochea from DLB placed third.

The top three schools in Minot were Ramstad, Memorial and Jim Hill. The top three schools from the county were DLB, ORCS and Berthold.

Team awards were given, then the Countdown Round began.

The Countdown Round consisted of 12 students, competing one-on-one against each other. A question was read by Laura Geller, from MSU, and it was also projected on the screen. The students had to press a buzzer to answer and then wait to be called on. They had 45 seconds to solve the equation.

The first to get it correct gains a point. If they cannot get the correct answer before the time was up, no one receives a point for that question and the administrator continues with the questions.

If the students are still tied 1-1 after the third round, they go to sudden elimination. The first to answer a question correctly goes to the next round.

Wednesday’s Countdown Round was a practice run so the students knew what to expect and they were allowed to use their calculators. Calculators will not be allowed at the state competition.