The Cannon Falls High School math league recently concluded their 2023 season. Going into the season, the Cannon Falls Math League team struggled to find members. Of the maximum eight team members allowed, the team was only able to fill five spots. With the points of all eight team members being summed together, losing out on three possible scores was a severe disadvantage. Then after two weeks, the team lost one of its team members, foreign exchange student from South Korea Minha Gu. The team was down to four members: Charles Fick, Thomas Coyle, William Zheng, and Angel Zheng.

For the first four events of the season, the Math League team participated in virtual competitions from their coach, Mr. Quinlan’s, room. The 5th and final competition took place on February 13th in Mazeppa. Despite their disadvantage, the team was able to place third in section 5A, missing out on going to the state tournament for the first time in three years. Quinlan remarked on the season: “We had an excellent season with some really stellar performances from our individuals and team.” While the team didn’t make it to the state tournament, such a high ranking for a team of four was achieved with excellent individual performance with Coyle, William Zheng, and Fick placing 1st, 3rd, and 5th respectively in the section and Angel Zheng just outside of the top 10 at 13th. Fick, one of the two returning members along with Coyle, commented on missing out on the state tournament: “Since I traveled to the state competition last year, I know how much fun it can be. Despite that, I am proud that our team of four could make it all the way to the top three.” 

Moreover, William Zheng was excited about the future of the team and said, “I still have many more years ahead of me so I know that I would get there one day, but it is annoying that we got super close to state as a team.” Willian, an 8th grader, is not the only member planning on returning next year. In fact, all four members plan to continue participating in the math league for the 2023-2024 school year. 

While the team was not able to make it to the state tournament, Thomas Coyle was able to go as an individual after placing 1st in the section. The state tournament took place at South Saint Paul High School on March 13 where Coyle fell short of the top 10 in the individual event, receiving 14 out of a possible 24 with 18 points required to crack the top 10.

Although the team did not place as high as they typically would, they still had a successful and impressive season. Despite having a team half the size as everyone else, they were able to place highly, an impressive feat for the small group.