Math team reincarnated
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Westborough - In the past, there were definitely stigmas that went along with diff erent crowds of kids at school, and you knew who was cool and who wasn't. Athletes were usually pretty cool. Chess club kids, usually not. And kids on the math team? Forget about it. Not a cool one among them. Until now.

The students on the math team at Gibbons Middle school consist of a good cross section of students who just happen to like, and excel at, math.

Team coach John Boyd, who has headed up the team for seven years, said the stigma that used to go along with academic teams and clubs is finally lifting.

"It's much more socially acceptable than it used to be, and kids are now excited to tell people they're a part of the team," he said.

The math team, like the school's track, basketball and volleyball teams, meet every week to train together, strengthen their abilities and prepare for competitions.

Under the direction of Boyd, team captains help the group in their preparation, getting the individual students to function together as a group. It's this teamwork that Boyd said is so critical when it's time to compete.

Gibbons Middle School coach John Boyd helps his students with a complex problem at the whiteboard during a math team meeting. MELISSA MUNTZ

"At these competitions, they have to work together to answer problems, so they have to be able to cooperate with each other," he said. "You'll see kids helping each other to solve the practice problems I give them. They aren't critical of each other at all, because they recognize that there are diff erent skill levels on the team."

There are 37 kids who participate on the math team. Students must complete practice assignments, but are not required to attend the weekly training sessions if they are able to handle the work on their own, which frees them up to get involved in other after-school activities.

"Some of these kids have so much stress in their lives and it gives them a chance to compete and be successful but not have to be here all the time," Boyd said.

Awards from past teams inspire the kids to try to do better than the year before. The math team competes in five meets throughout the course of the year, and usually comes in first or second place.

"When we finish a meet, they'll include our score in the morning's announcements," Boyd said. "These kids get to walk around school with everyone knowing they came in first place, and it's the same sense of pride as any sports team has."

Sneha Subramaniam, who is one of the team captains, said she is part of the math team as much for the social element as the academic.

"It's fun to do math outside of school because it makes you use your brain, and I have a lot of friends on the team," she said. "There are a lot of smart kids and we all just like to work together."

For Ophir Ospovat, the team is a good support system for him as he strives to do better and better in competitions.

"You help them out when they need it, and it's nice to know that they will help you too," he said. "It's a good way to learn and have fun at the same time."

Boyd said his goals are the same as any other coach, giving kids the chance to compete and teaching them to take pride in their work, win or lose.

"I always tell them, if they've gotten a score of zero, that's great, as long as they tried their best," he said.