Some 49 middle and high school students from 25 schools competed in the Western Regional State Mathematics Finals today, hosted for the 17th 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.

In the Western Regional Competition, the winners, in the order they finished, were:

Algebra I – Brendan Paul Fletcher, Brendan Paul, Charlotte Home Educators Association; Tim Jiang, Watauga High School; Dylan J. Peifer, North Buncombe Middle School; Daniel L. Jones, Northview Middle School; Stephen Jenkins, Valley Springs Middle School; John Harwell, Clyde A. Erwin Middle School; Glenn A. Palmer, Brevard Middle School; Daniel Long, Jacobs Ford Middle School; and Mack A. Herman, C.H. Tuttle Middle School.

Algebra II – Jonathan C. Temple, Charlotte Country Day School; Brian Kim, T.C. Roberson High School; Cara Lewis, A.C. Reynolds High School; Salem Elrahal, Harding University High School; Austin J. Wagner, T.C. Roberson High School; Gabrielle Schroeder, Carolina Day School; Daniel Patrick Luther, A.C. Reynolds High School; Douglas Grey, Charlotte Country Day School; Gorthala Sisira, Carolina Day School; and Katie Autry, Forest Hills High School.

Geometry -- Will Jordan, Carolina Day School; Benjamin Birdsong, Carolina Day School; Sam B. Brown, T.C. Roberson High School; Christopher Gauger, A.C. Reynolds High School; James MacDonald, North Buncombe High School; Erin E. McKee, A.C. Reynolds High School; Amanda M. English, North Buncombe High School; Lindsey R. Fox, North Buncombe High School; Jack Ruhle, Tuscola High School; and Matthew Krebbs, T.C. Roberson High School.