[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO CONGRATULATES SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEAM

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                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 1998

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the new Illinois 
state champions on the Sparta High School Math Team. This victory marks 
the sixth consecutive time students from Sparta High School have won 
the state title in the small school division of the Illinois Council of 
Teachers of Mathematics state competition.
  The students serve as highly successful ambassadors for their school 
and the community of Sparta. Sparta High School students have won the 
state title in twelve of the past 18 years of competition. This Sparta 
team won this year's competition with a total score of 754 points.
  Team members compete in twelve different areas of team and individual 
competition. Events include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, 
Precalculus, Eight Person Team, Calculator Team, Two Person, Relay, and 
an Oral Competition focusing on mathematics in medicine.
  Coach and Sparta teacher Eric Hoflich encourages team members to take 
on some of the teaching responsibilities as another way for them to 
learn. Older students help younger ones, and the element of competition 
encourages students to improve their performance compared to other 
teams and to their own previous performance.
  The Town of Sparta has proclaimed this week ``Sparta High School 
State Champion Math Team Week`` in honor of the team's first place 
finish. Team members sharing in this victory are: T.J. Joiner, Vanessa 
Salarda, Jeff Russell, Jonathan King, Curt Holland, Brittany Godwin, 
Betsey Berry, Josh Holder, Jared Cox, Trevor Coop, Brad Ashley, Jimmy 
Conn, Patrick Zweigart, Brett Matzenbacher, Ryan Pigford, Rachel Shaw, 
J.R. Blind, Jennifer Ebers, Matt King, Angela Hess, Ryan Pillers, Reid 
Holland, Kendra Holder, Nathan Pigford, Nikki Joiner, Jamie Sparks, 
Erik Perks, Brett Lessley, Rachel Dickey, Sahra Kloth, Rachel Stephens, 
Cory Husemann, Erica Salarda, Erin Tolliver, Elizabeth King, Brandy 
Hagene, Kendra McConachie, Laurie Juenger, and Alicia Barrowes. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these talented 
and accomplished students.

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