Fifth-grade students from Halverson, Hawthorne, Sibley and Lakeview Elementary Schools participated in the regional Math Masters Minnesota Challenge on April 26 at Austin High School.

Thirty-seven teams of students competed individually and as teams on eight sets of mathematical problems.

The Halverson students who competed were: Connor Veldman, Alexis Zak, Brenda Lunning, Emily Martinez, Carson Smith, Melissa Palomares, Mya Jensen, Jazmin Morales, Ryker Rofshus and Traw Daw. The team was coached by Robin Hundley.

The Hawthorne students who competed were: Jaden Anderson, Ashley Horton, Alexis Heavner, Culley Larson, Noah Hanson, Kristian Anderson, Joshus Thorson, Kiara Newman, Bess Wiemerslage, Justine Duenes and Elizabeth Lestrud. The team was coached by Larry Rassler.

The Lakeview students who competed were: Braden Kraft, Ashley Butt, Logan Howe, Samuel Yoon, Maggie Moeller, Maddie Heinz, Kaitlyn Komoszewski, Joe Deyak, Ashton Ausen, Bradley Horecka and Nathan Siefken. The team was coached by Laurie Herman.

The Sibley students who competed were: Kolby Johnson, Cole Indrelie, Madalyn Peterson, Karter Kenis, Marty Syverson, Emma Renchin, Aleighya Zak, Samanatha Skarstad, Syndney Collins, Carson Stadheim, Alma Navarrete and Rylee Bjorklund. The team was coached by Christine Schaefer.

The team of Nathan Siefken, Maddie Heinz, Bradley Horecka, Braden Kraft and Samuel Yoon placed first as a team in problem solving. Third-place awards went to Braden Kraft for order of operations facts test and individual problem solving. Cole Indrelie placed fourth on the order of operations facts test. Maddie Heinz placed fifth individually for problem solving.

Students Alexis Zak, Brenda Lunning and Mya Jensen placed seventh on the order of operations facts test.

Tenth-place awards were earned by Samuel Yoon, order of operations facts test A, Logan Howe, individual problem solving, and Carson Stadheim, order of operations facts test.

Alma Navarrete was awarded 11th place on the order of operations facts test.

Connor Veldman, Logan Howe and Ashley Butt placed 12th on the order of operations facts test.

On individual problem solving Samuel Yoon placed 16th, Ashley Horton placed 19th and Cole Indrelie placed 20th.

Math Masters of Minnesota began as a competition in 1989 with teams from 44 schools taking part. In 1995 the competition expanded to include sixth graders. This year there were about 5,000 fifth- and sixth-graders who were registered to compete.