Numbers Crunch

North Mecklenburg and nine other high schools competed in the 10th annual Numbers Crunch Math Competition presented by Time Warner Cable. The contest challenged problem-solving skills with football variables.

Panthers team president Danny Morrison welcomes students, teachers and judges to the competition, the only of its kind in the NFL. A former math professor, Morrison appreciates the importance of math.

The South Mecklenburg Sabres pause to show off their best game faces before the start of the competition in the Bank of America Stadium press box.

Caroline Johnson and Peter McWilliams from Hammond High School in Columbia, S.C., collaborate on a challenging math problem.

Students from Charlotte Country Day tackle a difficult question involving group ticket pricing.

Mathletes from Raleigh Charter High School furiously put pencil to paper to solve a problem.

As Numbers Crunch veterans, the Myers Park Mustangs know that a close huddle is the most optimal formation for problem solving.

Judges Dr. Carl Yerger and Ben Klein of Davidson College debate a solution while Dr. Harold Reiter, also of Davidson, Dr. Mike Tarabek of Queens University and Dr. Irl Bivens of Davidson look on.

Who says math competitions can't be fun? The two-time Numbers Crunch champion Providence Day Chargers are confident turning in their solution.

Parker Garrison of the Charlotte Home Educator's Association gives his answer a once-over before turning it over to the judges. Students had eight minutes to solve each question.

Mathletes from Concord High School deliberate a problem.

Jim Ludington, executive vice president of advanced technology for Time Warner Cable, presented the awards. He also spoke about the importance of science and math in today's ever-changing society.

Joshua Bakita, Parker Garrison, Austin Lukavsky, Hannah Noblin and Alex Schmid of The Charlotte Home Educator's Association took home third place.

A.C. Flora of Columbia, S.C., a long-time Numbers Crunch competitor, finished a close second.

Raleigh Charter High School, a first-time competitor, won the competition and received a $1,000 donation from the Carolina Panthers and Time Warner Cable to support the school's math program.