The Laurel High School Math Bowl Team recently brought home the winning trophy from Jones County Junior College’s Second Annual Math Bowl. With 21 area high schools competing for the honor of top school, Laurel High School students said they felt prepared, but went into the competition with no expectations of winning.

“The results of the competition are a reminder of what hard work and dedication can lead to. The students and the math department, especially Mr. [Keith] Rushing, worked really hard with the students to not just do well, but to win. I know many people saw Laurel High School as the underdog,” said Principal Carl Michael Day. “The students have been preparing for a number of weeks now. Although they brought a high level of intelligence to the table, it was their hard work and dedication that made them successful.”

“A good part of this win is about showing how smart we are, and showing the high quality of education here at Laurel High School,” added Rhonda Jones, 12th grade. “We went in as the underdog, and this win shows that we’ve got what it takes.”

The students worked on problems to reacquaint themselves with things they may have studied in previous years. Rushing, LHS math department chair, said the students participated in a self-study to prepare for the competition.

“This is a really responsible group of students,” Rushing said. “I’m so proud of this group. They did a self-study, and that gave them the opportunity to come to us when they needed help. The questions they asked showed us they were headed in the right direction.”

Quinn Mackey, Rhonda Jones, Josh Agee, Ben Sanderson, Bonnie Brumley and Lauree Thomas participated in the competition on behalf of Laurel High School.

Agee said that prior to each round of competition the students gathered for a quick prayer and pep talk. They also said that the win would not have been possible without their teachers.

“After about the second or third round, we met together and said, ‘we are going to win this’, and we did,” Thomas said. “Our teachers are amazing. I could not have answered one question without Mrs. [Linda] Ducker or Mr. Rushing. My commitment to school and my teachers’ commitment to me is the reason I’ve received academic scholarships to my top pick college.”

“After every round that we won, someone would ask us about our strategy,” Jones added. “We didn’t have to cram for this event. We had learned all of the information over our high school career. We have really great teachers here at Laurel High.”

“The information wasn’t mind blowing or new,” Sanderson also added. “It proves how good our education system really is. We were exceptionally prepared.”

The students were also excited about the cash prize that went along with the win. Rushing received $1,000 for being the teacher of the winning team, and the students received $2,500 to divide equally among the members of the team. The students were impressed to see academics rewarded with such a special prize.

“I think it is great that people awarded education. This wasn’t a sporting event. It was an educational event. It is important, and good that they awarded academics,” Agee said.

The students mentioned purchasing new tennis rackets, possibly a Christmas present or two, shoes and one said he would be giving 10 percent to his church. However they all agreed on one fact – the majority of the money would be saved for college preparations.

“This is a great accomplishment and I am so proud of the hard work that went in to preparing for the math bowl. It does not surprise me how this group of students performed because they’ve done well in all areas of their high school academic work,” said Superintendent Dr. Glenn McGee. “We always expect our students to do well, because of the academic preparation that goes on every day in this district. We believe that our students can compete alongside anybody.