HEBRON – Hebron Academy Head of School John King has announced that the academy’s math team clinched its sixth straight Class D Maine State Championship. This is the sixth consecutive year that Hebron has taken the title of small school state champions. The team finished third overall in the state meet in April.

Hebron’s math team is made up of approximately 20 students from across the globe and is coached by Ms. Merry Shore, an Auburn native who has been with Hebron Academy for nearly 12 years.

Hebron mathletes also competed in the New England meet on April 27 in Canton, Mass. The meet is invitational and taps only the top 10 teams in Maine to compete with top teams from the other New England states. Hebron planned to take its top eight students, to compete in three individual categories as well as a team round.

Junior twin brothers and math MVPs Yue Zhou, ranked no. 23 in Maine, and Jian Zhou, ranked no. 16 in Maine, have also qualified for the American Regions Math League Meet — also known as “Nationals” — on June 2 at Penn State University. This is the fifth time in six years that Hebron Academy will be represented on the national stage.

Hebron owes its “mathleticism” to Shore. Self-described as “mathy,” Shore was determined to establish a team and promote the study of the field by giving students an opportunity to pursue their interests well beyond the classroom. Popularity took hold, especially as Hebron expanded its international student population. Now in her 12th year, Shore has won the Class D title for more than half the time she has been at Hebron Academy.

In addition to being a part time international student coordinator and beloved math team coach, Shore is the mathematics department co-chair and a college counselor and teaches religion and philosophy. Mr. Ian Cross also assists in coaching the math team.