They’re not your average team of athletes. They don’t dunk, kick a goal or shoot a puck. They’re not in the weight room, lifting to prepare for their events. They don’t need any protective gear. This team prepares in a classroom, aided only by its collective brain power. This is the math team. For more than 15 years, Albert Lea High School has been competing in the Minnesota Junior High Mathematics League with other math teams across the state. There are 2 different leagues, JHML for middle school students and freshmen and the other for sophomores through seniors. The ninth grade math team is coached by Mrs. Gale Nelson. Nelson has been the district organizer for the ninth grade math team for about 15 years. In her time with the team, they’ve earned 11 conference championships and two state championships. The team is currently ranked third in the Minnesota 9 division. The season starts in October with practices as early as September. Practices are usually three to four times a week and are flexible. “Practices are usually held whenever the majority can come,” Nelson said. “We study old packets from previous meets and go over the list of topics that will be in the next meet.” There are fives meets in a season and all of them are held at Southwest Middle School. In a meet there are two individual events and a team event, all worth an varying amount of points that go toward the team’s overall score. Everything is timed; participants are given 10 minutes for individual competitions and 20 for the team. “We practice with timers so they can get a feel of what the pressure is like,” Nelson said. The questions at the meets are designed to be a challenge for the students. The topics chosen are often those that are yet to be taught in the classrooms. “Some of the advantages of the math team are the opportunity to learn new topics that aren’t in the curriculum and learning other topics before the rest of the students,” Nelson said. Math team isn’t for everyone. According to Nelson, it’s for students who love math and have the desire to learn more about math and are willing to put forth the effort to succeed. It’s not an exclusive group for honors students; anyone is welcome to join—as long as they love math. “It’s not about ‘dorky’ people doing math,” said freshman Julia Otten. “You don’t have to be a genius at all to join.” Otten is one of the few ninth grade math team members. At the most recent meet, she was the only one who scored perfectly in both of her individual events. “I joined math team because I love math,” Otten said. “The questions are fun and it’s different from the regular math. It’s a lot like solving a puzzle. The work doesn’t matter; it’s all about getting the right answer however you can.” It is never too late to join either of the math teams. Like other activities, there is a fee. However, according to Nelson, it is well worth the fee because students are able to develop their math skills beyond the curriculum, skills needed in college. Also, for students thinking of the future, being involved in an activity like the math team looks great on a college application.