By Shirley Shuman
Twenty-three students participated in the 2022 Math Field Day at Braxton County High School Mark Byerly, a sophomore, earned first place in the competition. Administered and scored by science and math instructor Dr. Ethan Backus, this year’s event covered two days, Feb. 22 and 24 and was limited to students in grades 9-12. Students who placed in the top 10 will receive trophies at a later Board of Education meeting.
The top 10, beginning with Byerly, included Braxton Bender (10th grade), second place; Eliza Keener (12th grade), third place; Samuel Kennen (12th grade), fourth place; Dalton Hardway (12th grade,), fifth place; Bryson Spell (12th grade), sixth place; Heidi Payne (11th grade), 7th place; Madison Duffield (11th grade), 8th place; Wyatt Dennison 10th grade), 9th place, and Dezirae Frazee (11th grade), 10 th place.
Byerly, Keener, and Dennison participated in Region 4 Math Field Day held on WVU Tech’s campus in Beckley. Dr. Backus explained that these three were the only Braxton placers who chose to compete in the regional event. Along with Braxton’s three students, the competition included students from Fayette, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Nicholas.
Byerly finished fifteenth at the regional competition. As such, he is the fifth alternate for the state math field day.
