While viewers across the country were tuning in to ESPN’s SportsCenter to get breaking news on the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee, over 350 of south county’s best and brightest 4th through 6th graders assembled at the Earl Warren Showgrounds May 28 for the 33rd annual South Coast Math Superbowl.
The event, first held in May 1982, featured participants from 31 local private and public schools. It is organized annually by the Montecito Union School District, with support from Cold Spring School, Peabody Charter, the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and volunteers from the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Jeff Linder, math specialist at Montecito Union, has been orchestrating the event for the last several years.
“A number of adults devoted a lot of time and energy to pull this off, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication and sense of teamwork,” said Linder. “But I think every one of us would say we are inspired by the intellect, energy, and enthusiasm of these awesome kids.”
The Superbowl has three components: individual concepts and procedures, individual problem solving, and team problem solving. Students also participated in a hands-on engineering competition to build cantilevered structures using clay and toothpicks.
The day’s events were kicked off with an opening address from Dr. Nick Bruski, chief academic officer at Montecito Union School, and also featured a keynote address from Sam Woodard. Woodard was on the Monte Vista Elementary team from 1997-1999, and later co-founded and became CEO of mathchat, a technology company that creates an electronic tool for students to collaborate around mathematics on their phones or tablets.
“The big thing I took from the Math Superbowl was the thrill of problem solving,” Woodard says. “It gives students a chance to really struggle with challenging questions. As a kid, it afforded me the chance to be celebrated for solving difficult problems, and it heavily influenced my college and professional career paths.”
While Woodard’s story is an inspiring one, it was the young mathletes who were the stars of this show.
“It is such a privilege to witness these teams of students taking on intellectual challenges, persevering, and just enjoying learning mathematics,” said Ellen Barger, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction with the County Education Office.
Overall standings
1st Washington
2nd Kellogg Elementary
3rd Peabody Charter
3rd Monte Vista School
5th Isla Vista
6th Mountain View
4th Grade Team - 1st Washington, 2nd Kellogg, 3rd Isla Vista
5th Grade Team - 1st Peabody, 1st Washington, 3rd Isla Vista
6th Grade Team - 1st Kellogg, 2nd Vieja Valley, 3rd Washington
4th Grade Individual Standings
| 1st | Emanuel Manzanarez | Washington Elementary School |
| 2nd | Daniel Nickolov | Isla Vista School |
| 2nd | Hunter Hulsey | Washington Elementary School |
| 3rd | Valentina Juricek | Washington Elementary School |
5th Grade Individual Standings
| 1st | Jacob Snodgress | Monte Vista School |
| 2nd | Alejandro McCotter Gonzalez | Peabody Charter School |
| 2nd | Kai Edick | Washington Elementary School |
| 3rd | Barrett Collins | Peabody Charter School |
6th Grade Individual Standings
| 1st | Magaliel Madrigal | Santa Barbara Community Academy |
| 1st | Owen Pearson | Peabody Charter School |
| 1st | Tetsuto Katsura | Vieja Valley School |
| 2nd | Samuel McCarty | Washington Elementary School |
| 2nd | Tuan Anh Dang | Isla Vista School |
| 3rd | Andy Qin | Monte Vista School |
