{"id":3304,"date":"2017-04-25T12:31:19","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T17:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mpisd.net\/mphs\/?p=3304"},"modified":"2019-05-02T12:47:00","modified_gmt":"2019-05-02T17:47:00","slug":"mphs-calculator-applications-team-wins-state-uil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mpisd.net\/mphs\/mphs-calculator-applications-team-wins-state-uil\/","title":{"rendered":"MPHS Calculator Applications Team Wins State UIL!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mount Pleasant High School Calculator Applications Team took the top spot in the State of Texas at the UIL State Academic Meet in Austin. The team made up of seniors Carlos Barboza, Daniel Hernandez and Husban Shahid and sophomore Sanum Shahid beat second place team Wisdom High School from Houston by 56 points. Husban Shahid earned 4th place and Daniel Hernandez placed 7th.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe calculator applications team worked hard and continued to improve throughout the year,\u201d said MPHS Math teacher and team coach Andy Speir.\u00a0 \u201cThey knew they had the chance to be one of the best teams in the state coming into the year but had to get accustomed to some new rule changes.\u00a0 They did not get discouraged when other teams were beating them earlier in the year but just continued to get better.\u00a0 They were successful because they were truly a team, teaching and pushing each other to improve and defeat all the best teams in the state.\u00a0 The three seniors, Carlos, Daniel, and Husban have all competed in UIL Calculator Applications for the past four years and will truly be missed.\u00a0 They have set a lot of records for our school and will be remembered for their accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MPHS Math team placed 2nd in the State at the same meet. The team of Seniors Daniel Hernandez and Husban Shahid and Sophomores Jose Liera and David Barboza trailed first place team Highland Park by 52 points but beat third place team Lubbock High School by 132 points. Jose Liera placed 1st and Daniel Hernandez tied for 4th place.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe math team had a great year finishing 2nd in the state,\u201d Speir said.\u00a0 \u201cThey improved their team score from district to region and state.\u00a0 It took a record performance to defeat Mount Pleasant as Highland Park\u2019s team score was the highest in the 26-year history of the UIL Math contest for our classification.\u00a0 Individually Daniel Hernandez placed for the second year in a row and Sophomore Jose Liera turned in an incredible performance to defeat the brightest minds in the state becoming the individual state champion, beating students that basically never lose math competitions.\u00a0 Daniel has been amazing at teaching other students on the team and his older brother Osias who won District in 2011 has been like another coach for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The students who make up the two teams were all thrilled to have performed so well at State. Calculator Applications team member Senior Carlos Barboza said, \u201cAfter 7 years competing in UIL Calculator Applications, becoming state champions with my fellow seniors is the perfect ending to a legacy that will hopefully inspire future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Math team member Sophomore Jose Liera said, \u201cGoing to UIL events with these people has been an exciting experience, and our success at State ended it perfectly.\u00a0 I will never forget the seniors\u2019 contribution to making UIL memorable as we move on and try to retain State Champion titles next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calculator Apps team member Sophomore Sanum Shahid said, \u201cAfter all the meets we had, both good ones and bad ones, our hard work has finally paid off at State.\u00a0 I feel really happy being on the Calculator team with my brother and the other seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her brother and fellow Calculator Applications team member Senior Husban Shahid added, \u201cThe competition wasn\u2019t the other schools.\u00a0 Our real competition was the people in the mirror staring back at us.\u00a0 After believing in ourselves and continuously trying to beat our previous scores, we finally succeeded in becoming State champions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior Daniel Hernandez, who competed on both the Calculator Applications and Math teams with Husban Shahid, summed up the feelings of all when he said, \u201cBecoming state champions would not have been possible without the help of Mr. Speir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speir summed up his feelings about his students saying, \u201cI am blessed to have had the opportunity to coach these students and am grateful to God for the abilities he has given them.\u201d<\/p>\n

High school and District administrators offered their congratulations as well.<\/p>\n

MPHS UIL Director Regina Crouch said, \u201cThose students have excelled in some of best things MPISD has to offer students. They work extremely hard in an increasingly competitive program, and have one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever seen as their coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

MPHS Math Department Chair Ann Jenkins also congratulated the team and their coach. She said, \u201cWinning state or getting runner up in state for any group, whether academic or sports, is a tremendous accomplishment.\u00a0 These teams and their coach, Andy Speir, have put in numerous practice hours to achieve this goal.\u00a0 I am very proud of the teams for the way they have represented Mount Pleasant High School.\u00a0 This is a realization of dreams come true for any student in high school.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t be more excited for my \u2018math beasts\u2019.\u00a0 They are an awesome group of students.\u201d<\/p>\n

MPHS Principal Dustin Cook said he was thrilled to hear that these teams had taken 1st and 2nd in the State. \u201cThese students have spent countless hours before and after school as well as in class preparing for these competitions. And their coach was right there with them. We are so proud of them for their accomplishments. They exemplify the type of dedicated students and staff we have here at Mount Pleasant High School.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an outstanding accomplishment,\u201d said Mike Lide, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. \u201cWe are so proud of all of the hard work that our students and Mr. Speir put into this and very thankful for the support of the parents as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

MPISD Superintendent of Schools Judd Marshall added, \u201cWe are so proud of the calculator applications team at MPHS for winning state!!\u00a0 Coach Andy Speir and the team have worked so hard to achieve at a high level, and they have accomplished all their goals this year.\u00a0 Being a state champion is the best you can do, and we are so proud to call them Mt. Pleasant Tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coach Andy Speir and members of the Calculator Applications and Math Teams were recognized at the MPISD Board of Trustees Meeting on April 24.<\/p>\n

Pictured: Members of the Calculator Applications team at the MPISD Board Meeting: Sanum Shahid, Carlos Barboza, Coach Andy Speir, Husban Shahid, Daniel Hernandez.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Members of the MPHS Math Team who placed 2nd<\/sup> at State: Husban Shahid, Jose Liera, Coach Andy Speir, David Barboza, Daniel Hernandez.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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