Most people were worried about flowers, candy, balloons, teddy bears, and other material declarations of love last Monday.

However, the Morgan Academy Math Team had more pressing matters to attend to.

The math team, made up of Rachael Austin, Kate Cothran, Cate Gilmer, C.J. Searcy, Matthew Taccone, and Anna Twardy competed in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) District Math Competition on Monday, Feb. 14.

The competition, which was held at Prattville Christian Academy, included students from seven other schools within the district.

Morgan’s math team placed first for the entire district.

“We are glad, we want to go to state,” said Taccone. “We have never done it (math competition) before. We went in blind and were kind of nervous.” The rest of the team agreed with him.

“We all took a 50 question written test and they scored them,” said Austin,

who was the team’s high scorer.

“Four of us competed in a timed, ciphering round where the number of points we got depended on how quickly we worked the problems.”

After high school, the students will benefit even further from their math skills.

Austin, the 12th grade daughter of Benny and Vickie Austin, plans to attend the University of Alabama and major in Accounting. She would like to eventually enter law school.

Cothran, who also plans on attending the University of Alabama, wants to major in Biology. She is the 12th grade daughter of Jeff and Laura Cothran, and would like to ultimately enter dental school.

Gilmer, who is undecided about college and a major, is the 12th grade daughter of Mel and Catherine Gilmer.

Searcy, the 11th grade son of Chris and Manera Searcy, is undecided about school, but would like to major in Architecture.

Twardy, who is not sure about school, would like to major in Accounting.

She is the 11th grade daughter of Joe and Claire Twardy.

“I am very proud,” said Pud Glover, Morgan Academy Geometry/Algebra teacher and Math Team Sponsor. “They worked hard to prepare, and they will compete in state.”

Austin, Cothran, Gilmer, Searcy, and Taccone are scheduled to compete in the AISA State Math Competition that will be held Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Faulkner University Montgomery.

The competition will begin at 10 a.m.