The Southwest Washington Math Challenge returned to Battle Ground on March 22. Students in fifth through eighth grades from almost every Battle Ground middle school and two alternative learning schools competed in a variety of individual and team challenges. Congratulations to all of the participants and the following award winners!
Mental math
Competitors must answer 10 oral questions and 10 written questions in one minute.
Fifth grade
First place: Tie among Nathaniel Kimber, Daniel Sharipov and Wesley Suter, all from Chief Umtuch Middle.
Second place: Tie among Jaxon Muscarella, Tukes Valley Middle School; Viktor Rusyn, CAM Academy; and Benhail Tadesse, Chief Umtuch Middle School
Sixth grade
First place: Tie among Paul Alba, CAM Academy; Ian Lopez, Pleasant Valley Middle School; and Gaur Mahesh, CAM Academy
Second place: Tie between Noah Heredia, Chief Umtuch Middle School, and Maddy Vick, Pleasant Valley Middle School
Seventh grade
First place: Tie among Zander Kenny, Pleasant Valley Middle School; Jude Kerchman, Chief Umtuch Middle School; and Scar Tenold, Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Tie between Athan Dyck and Adeline Griffith, both from Pleasant Valley Middle School
Eighth grade
First place: Hunter Lopez, CAM Academy
Second place: Tie among Carson Coker, Chief Umtuch Middle School; Eva Cryblskey, River HomeLink; Neelamber Mahesh, CAM Academy; and Svetoslav Netesov, CAM Academy
Individual challenge
In this challenge, competitors must answer 20 written questions. Each grade has a unique test.
Fifth grade
First place: Nathaniel Kimber, Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Ayla Spencer, CAM Academy
Sixth grade
First place: Gaur Mahesh, CAM Academy
Second place: Tie among Wyatt Elliott, Chief Umtuch Middle School; Ian Lopez, Pleasant Valley Middle School; and Brooke S., Amboy Middle School
Seventh grade
First place: Scar Tenold, Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Sammie Paine, Chief Umtuch Middle School
Eighth grade
First place: Eva Cryblskey, River HomeLink
Second place: Svetoslav Netesov, CAM Academy
Combination score by school
This award recognizes competitors’ combined mental math and individual challenge scores. The awards go to the competitor from each school with the top score (regardless of grade).
Amboy Middle School
First place: Laya Hendrickson
Second place: Treeva Olin
CAM Academy
First place: Svetoslav Netesov
Second place: Gaur Mahesh
Chief Umtuch Middle School
First place: Scar Tenold
Second place: Carson Coker
Daybreak Middle School
First place: Jake Waldal
Second place: Callie Anderson
Pleasant Valley Middle School
First place: Zander Kenny
Second place: Ian Lopez
River HomeLink
First place: Eva Cryblskey
Second place: Jamie Maurer
Tukes Valley Middle School
First place: Jaxon Muscarella
Second place: Olivia Dickey
Team challenge
The team challenge includes eight written questions for each grade and a Math Bowl.
Fifth grade
First place: Waylon Griffes, Dalai Huynh, Nathaniel Kimber and Wesley Suter from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Benjamin Goldstein, Daniel Sharipov and Benhail Tadesse from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Third place: Sawyer Katzer, Nova Ryll, Ayla Spencer and Sophia Teacher from CAM Academy
Sixth grade
First place: Noah Heredia, Ryan Jose and Reggie Nkansah from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Dylan Fowler, Ian Lopez, Paxton Strickland and Daniel Truong from Pleasant Valley Middle School
Third place: Paul Alba, Samuel Fabyanchuk, Gaur Mahesh and Elliot Ryll from CAM Academy
Seventh grade
First place: MacKenzie Cochran, Sammie Paine and Scar Tenold from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Second place: Athan Dyck, Adeline Griffith and Henry Wood from Pleasant Valley Middle School
Third place: Jude Kerchman, Seerat Sharma and Josie Zemke from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Eighth grade
First place: Hunter Lopez, Neelambar Mahesh, Svetoslav Netesov and Gavin Stewart from CAM Academy
Second place: Charis Ahrendt, Eva Cryblskey, Micah Mosher and Annie Moss from River HomeLink
Third place: DJ Frazier, Seiji Garcia, Noah Sawczuk and Lorelai Wilde from Chief Umtuch Middle School
Overall top individual (top score in mental and individual regardless of grade)
Congratulations to Eva Cryblskey from River HomeLink! Eva earned this year's overall top individual award.
Coaches
Amboy Middle School: Erica Benge, Dave Law, Jim Mathis and Kris Nordberg
CAM Academy: Ryan Cowl, Max Mahesh, Justin Ryll, Mahesh Subramanium, Kaytlyn Walsh and Brad Zon
Chief Umtuch Middle School: Yvonne Flattum, Jon Nesbitt, Belinda Ulibarri and Donni Woolman
Pleasant Valley Middle School: Yvonne Trainor
River HomeLink: Melissa Alexander, Valerie Buzalsky and Kelly Eiseman
Tukes Valley Middle School: Linda Korum
A dedicated planning team makes this challenge possible each year. This year’s planning team included the following individuals:
Dave Cresap, retired director of curriculum, instruction and assessment
Allison Tuchardt, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment
Rachel Karlsen, teacher at Battle Ground Virtual Academy
Lacey Marsolek, district assessment coordinator
Cheryl Kryger, volunteer
The Battle Ground Education Foundation also supported the tournament.
Thank you to all of the competitors, coaches, parents, guardians and volunteers. See you in 2026!