HOLLIS – Hollis Brookline High School recently won the Southern Mathematics Association of Senior High league championship for the ninth consecutive year, as well as the state Division II championship.

“We have been SMASH league champions every year since 2000, except for 2005,” faculty adviser Stacey Plummer said.

That’s 14 out of 15 years, for those
who are counting, along with previous nonconsecutive state titles.

A large, shiny trophy has a place of honor on Plummer’s desk in her classroom. She has been a math team adviser for 19 of her 20 years teaching, starting at Merrimack High School before her arrival at HBHS 14 years ago.

Plummer said SMASH has about 25 regional teams, while the state championships are divided into groups based on school size, much like sports.

There are five meets during the year leading up to the state championship, with one practice held just prior to each meet. Meets are attended by the entire team, which currently boasts 50 members, but only the top 10 performers are chosen to compete. The remainder are considered the junior varsity for that event.

“Unlike sports, where the varsity team is set at the beginning of the season, we fluctuate,” Plummer said. “If the JV performs better, we switch out, so it changes all season.

“It is fun for us and for the kids. They always feel like they have a chance.”

The team is relatively even in terms of male and female participants, and Plummer is quick to point out that these students aren’t your stereotypical geeks but rather are well-rounded individuals with many interests. Because the math team isn’t a huge time commitment, participants don’t have to skip other opportunities to participate.

“I’ve been on math team my whole high school career and middle school, too,” said senior Nick Garside, who was also captain of the varsity football team. “I think of it as a fun day where I get to be with people who I like and do what I think is enjoyable.

“A lot of people have this idea that math team is full of nerds, but we’re not.”

In addition to the math team, senior Reagan Burns plays lacrosse and crew. Her competitive drive serves her well in all of these fields.

“I love math, and it is fun to go to the meets,” she said. “I’m not on the varsity team, but I always try to beat my personal score. The problems are like puzzles, and to be the high scorer among ourselves is awesome.”

Susan Mooers, Plummer’s
co-adviser, agrees that even those students who know they will be JV alternates still are excited to participate and attend the meets, even though their scores won’t count.

“Some schools can barely pull together a 10-member team,” she said. “I am really excited to be coaching at a school where there is so much passion for mathematics.”