Minnesota Junior High Math League
The Minnesota Junior High School Mathematics League was founded in 1986 by Marlys Henke. It was originally formed with eight junior high schools from the city of St. Paul, and was modeled after the Minnesota Senior High School Mathematics League (MSHSML). The two organizations share the same triangle symbol.
The purpose of the MNJHML is to encourage students to participate in math contests, serve as a “farm club” for the MSHSML, enable students to meet mathletes from other schools, and to provide recognition for students excelling in mathematics. It also serves as preparation for the annual MathCounts competition. The meet topics are based on the MathCounts topics.
Member schools belong to a division of two to fifteen schools that often are aligned with their athletic conference competitors. Each school has a team (or teams) with a maximum of six students with no more than four eighth graders. Individual participation is also encouraged for those not on the official team. The teams in each division come together for five meets each season. During the 2009-2010 season the League had almost 2000 students from 120 schools around the state of Minnesota participating in 24 divisions.
Maryls Henke started her teaching career in 1968, teaching math and chemistry in Zambia, Africa. In 1970 she joined the St. Paul Public Schools where she taught chemistry at the old Mechanic Arts High School. In the late 1970’s Ms. Henke taught math and science at Highland Park Junior High School. In 1980 she became a member of the math department at St. Paul Central High School.
She became the coach of the Central Math Team in 1984 and brought them to the State Tournament every year from 1990 to 2004, winning the State Championship in 1997 and 2001. In June of 2004 she retired from active teaching, but remained active in the Senior High Math League.
At the 2005 Summer Conference of the Minnesota Senior High School Math League, Ms. Henke was inducted in the first class of the League’s Hall of Fame. Ms. Henke had also coached Minnesota’s American Regions Math League teams and had been State Director of the American Junior High School Math Exam given every November.
Marlys Henke passed away on February 6, 2014, after a year long battle with cancer. We hope to carry her legacy into the future.
The Board is comprised of dedicated present and past math coaches, instructors and parents. Each board member serves a three year term. It is the goal of the Board for the members to represent the entire state and all realms of educational institutions.
Minnesota Junior High School
Math League Office
PO Box 195
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Phone: (651) 252-1766
mnjhml1@gmail.com
