The Buchholz High School (BHS) math team claimed its 15th national championship at the Mu Alpha Theta math competition held recently in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
BHS defeated 31 other schools, including American Heritage Broward, who beat Buchholz for the Florida state championship in April by 17 points, according to an Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) release.
“I was especially proud of some of our younger team members,” Buchholz coach Will Frazer said in a press release. “Several of them did not prepare properly for state and we paid a price. They learned their lesson and worked very hard in June to get ready.”
Buchholz rallied over the weekend at the national competition, beating American Heritage by 379 points.
The team earned 282 trophies and medals at the four-day competition, including 28 first-place awards.
Senior Tucker Shea earned the Khalin Award, the most prestigious individual award offered by Mu Alpha Theta, in recognition of a student’s contribution to their team over their school career.
One of the BHS coaches, Olanrewaju Fayiga, also won an award. The Sister Scholastica Award is based on student delegate votes, and given to the sponsor of the year. Fayiga’s award came with a $2000 prize for him and $1000 for the school.
Buchholz has now won 15 of the past 16 national championships. Before winning their 14th title in 2022, BHS was featured in an article by the Wall Street Journal that chronicled the team’s ongoing success.
Frazer said the team will begin preparations for next year’s nationals in Las Vegas after a short break.