Some 69 middle school and high school students from 30 schools competed in the Western Regional State Mathematics Finals on Thursday, hosted for the 12th year by UNC Asheville. This event is held each spring to encourage students to excel in mathematics. In order to be eligible to participate, students had to place in a regional qualifying contest.

The Eastern and Central Regional Finals were also held today in Rocky Mount and Greensboro. The exams were coordinated so that all results could be pooled and statewide winners determined, according to Til Dohse, UNCA mathematics professor, who coordinated the event for the western end of the state.

Four local students placed in the top five in the state. In Algebra One, Laura Sabato, of Charles D. Owen Middle School, had the second highest score in the state; Kayla Andersen, of Enka Middle School, had the third highest score in the state; and Rachel Flovin, of North Buncombe Middle School, tied for fourth highest score in the state.

In Geometry, Jeremy J. Diner, of North Buncombe High School, tied for third highest score in the state. In the Western Regional Competition, the winners, in the order they finished, were:

Algebra I -- Laura Sabato, Charles D. Owen Middle School; Kayla Anderson, Enka Middle School; Rachel Flovin, North Buncombe Middle School; Emily Seibel, Enka Middle School; Sara Glance, Enka Middle School; Melissa Summer, Northview Middle School; Hailey Russell, Enka Middle School; Eric McKee, Cane Creek Middle School; Kendra Ferguson, Erwin Middle School; and Hampton Ratcliff, Erwin Middle School.

Algebra II -- Mark Browning, Charlotte Country Day School; Michael Burlone, Enka High School; Megan Mackiernan, Enka High School; Ryan Chandler, Myers Park High School; Matthew Williams, T.C. Roberson High School; Melissa DeLucchi, Tuscola High School; Valerie Smith, T.C. Roberson High School; Stephen Kaliski, Charlotte Latin School; Allyson Pritchett, Enka High School; and Cliff Wu, Myers Park High School.