The Lexington High School Math Team, one of the largest clubs at LHS, is known for its intense tryouts and competitiveness. Yet, beyond the complex problems and math competitions, the Math Team is a deeply connected community of students, a space for shared passions, and a place to form genuine friendships.
The team attends math tournaments every few weeks, such as the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, the Princeton University Mathematics Competition, the Carnegie Mellon Informatics and Mathematics Competition, and the American Regions Mathematics League, as well as online competitions including the Stanford Math Tournament and Berkeley Math Tournament.
Strong teams from schools around the nation participate in these competitions, among which the LHS math team has performed well.
“It’s pretty good nationally,” Ryan Tang, a junior, said. “We have placed first multiple times in college competitions the past year.”
For many members, these competitions serve as opportunities to both use what they have studied independently and collaborate on problems with others.
“My favorite part of the community is that I get to work on my favorite subjects with others who also have a passion for it,” David Kim, a sophomore, said.
This shared interest fosters a welcoming environment across grade levels.
“Age on the Math Team doesn’t matter; everyone is really inclusive, so differences in age never felt important,” Ray Cui, a freshman, said, noting that older members often step up to offer valuable advice.
For many members, this social element is what transformed math into a passion.
“Math originally started more like a job due to familial expectations. Things such as group-solving with friends I met online really allowed me to love the process of studying math,” Cui said. “Doing a problem is going on a hike: the beginning of the hike might look daunting, and the journey up can be treacherous at times, but in the end, you still enjoy it.”
While the club’s collaborativeness persists, the captains are aware of the intensity of its activities. Captain William Hua, a senior, works alongside other captains to manage logistics such as forming teams, writing tryouts, and managing funds, while also ensuring the club is accessible for newcomers.
“Even though LHS Math Team is one of the most competitive clubs, we still have a lot of activities that anyone can do at Math Club,” Hua said. “For example, we have MML [the Massachusetts Mathematics League], which is an extremely beginner-friendly math competition that anyone can do.”
Cui noted that there is room for improvement in making the club’s curriculum more accessible.
“I think one thing the math team can improve on is to teach how to improve at math. The skill level varies, and dedicating three hours a week isn’t something that will necessarily allow you to become strong at math,” Cui said.
To address this, the Math Team plans to feature more student-led lectures on various subjects going forward.
“We’re working on including a lot of new members in the math team by creating fun activities, such as learning new math through our lectures,” Hua said.
Ultimately, the LHS Math Team is a deliberate balance of intellectual dedication, problem-solving, and socializing in high school. The core of the team remains centered around the community and friendships built.
“The most enjoyable part of Math Team is hanging out with my friends,” Tang said.
