Background with mathematical formulas and the word "Math"

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.

Students who earned awards in the fifth grade mental math category

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 

Students who earned awards in the sixth grade mental math category

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 

Students who earned awards in the seventh grade mental math category

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

Students who earned awards in the eighth grade mental math category

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.

Students who earned awards in the individual challenge, grade 5

Fifth grade

  • First place: Nathaniel Kimber, Chief Umtuch Middle School

  • Second place: Ayla Spencer, CAM Academy

Students who earned awards in the individual challenge, grade 6

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

Students who earned awards in the individual challenge, grade 7

Seventh grade

  • First place: Scar Tenold, Chief Umtuch Middle School

  • Second place: Sammie Paine, Chief Umtuch Middle School

Students who earned awards in the individual challenge, grade 8

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).

Top scorers from Amboy

Amboy Middle School 

  • First place: Laya Hendrickson

  • Second place: Treeva Olin

Top scorers from CAM

CAM Academy

  • First place: Svetoslav Netesov

  • Second place: Gaur Mahesh

Top scorers from Chief Umtuch

Chief Umtuch Middle School

  • First place: Scar Tenold

  • Second place: Carson Coker

Top scorers from Daybreak

Daybreak Middle School

  • First place: Jake Waldal

  • Second place: Callie Anderson

Top scorers from Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley Middle School

  • First place: Zander Kenny

  • Second place: Ian Lopez

Top scorers from RHL

River HomeLink

  • First place: Eva Cryblskey

  • Second place: Jamie Maurer

Top scorers from Tukes Valley

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.

Top teams from grade 5

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

Top teams from grade 6

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

Top teams from grade 7

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

Top teams from grade 8

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)

Overall top individual 

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!