MATHCOUNTS is a national math competition that promotes math achievement with all the challenges of a sports event. Students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades compete individually and as a team  in written and oral matches in the subjects of algebra, probability, number theory, and geometry. The competitions are held at a chapter and state level and the top four students from each state advance to the national competition. The Massachusetts state competition was held at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston on March 6th. This year, it showcased the math talents and skills of around 150 students who were of the top 15% from their chapter competitions.

Nihal Gowravaram, an eighth grader from the R. J. Grey Junior High School, Acton, placed 3rd after the individual rounds and came in 2nd place in the countdown round. His brother Niket Gowravaram, a sixth grader from the Paul P. Gates Elementary school, placed in 8th overall. Nihal will now move on to the MATHCOUNTS national competition in May in Orlando, Florida. The top four winners and the top female competitor received full-four year-tuition scholarships to Wentworth. In addition, the top 10 students were awarded a $1,000 savings bond from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). The MATHCOUNTS state coordinator said that in the history of Massachusetts, this is the first time that two siblings made it to the top 10.

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