The team of four UB undergraduate math majors won the first heat against the more experienced Grey Guard and Better Halves.
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The Mathletes conquered the competition in their debut on last night’s episode of NBC’s hit series “Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge.” The Mathletes hope to return to the show for the third season. There is so much trust involved in being a team and working through the obstacles.” “You don’t go through an experience like that without doing some major bonding. “We went in as friends, but we came out as family,” says Herrick. The challenges placed on the students, both on the course and in the classroom, helped the group develop a bond that will last beyond graduation. “Cramming in time to train was pretty difficult, but I squeezed it in everywhere I could.” “That was the busiest semester of my undergrad, with 16 credits of difficult courses, six credits of research, my job at Chipotle and my volunteer position at the climbing gym,” says Herrick. With a workout schedule that resembled a part-time job, balancing classwork and tests made the semester an obstacle course of its own. “Rock climbing is essentially physical problem-solving, which is super satisfying for people who like problem-solving and is basically the same general idea as the obstacles in the Spartan challenge,” says Lutnick. The students are also avid rock climbers and used the activity as one of the foundations of their training to sharpen their grip and upper body strength. We’re able to formulate and calculate quickly the best way to tackle Spartan obstacles.”īut textbooks and homework formed only a portion of their preparation. “We're problem-solvers and go about obstacles in terms of efficiency rather than strength. “Having a background in math gives us the analytical mindset,” says Komin. Here, says Komin, is where their math courses gave them an advantage. The competition places an emphasis on teamwork, often requiring contestants to problem-solve instead of relying on athleticism. Their challenge: a grueling obstacle course inspired by Spartan Race that is designed to test determination, endurance and will. Each team consists of five members: two men, two women and an elite Spartan athlete chosen by the show who serves as captain. The students are competing with 24 teams from across the nation for the opportunity to win $250,000. The second season of “Spartan” premieres at 10 p.m. Their journey, however, which included months of training, lifting and running, did not begin in a gym, but rather a math class.ĭubbed the Mathletes, the team consists of four UB math students: Chris Komin, a senior majoring in math and film study Zoe Herrick, a junior majoring in math and biomedical engineering Trevor Bernard, a sophomore math major and Ellen Lutnick, a junior who switched her major from math to exercise science. UB Mathematics wins NSF Award for Eventsįour UB students are competing on the upcoming season of “Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge,” the hit NBC competition series that tests physical and mental limits with a mile-long obstacle course filled with mud, water and fire.Biondini describes the essence of waves.Cavior reflects on fifty years of teaching, research, and service.
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