Strategically speaking, targeting the only girl on the opposing team would have been the textbook play. There's an unfortunate but common bias in these competitions that assumes the guys have the natural edge.
But on the Medford side, Mike's earlier performance as the "clueless junior" had been Oscar-worthy. He had successfully convinced the outsiders that he was the weak link.
The Marymount team huddled for a quick conference. Based on Mike's earlier "struggles," they reached a unanimous decision almost immediately.
"We choose to challenge Mike," Captain Carter announced confidently.
However, contrary to Marymount's expectations, the Medford team didn't look panicked. Instead, a ripple of excitement and suppressed cheers broke out among them.
Carter frowned. A sinking feeling began to settle in his gut. Something felt off.
"Excellent. Marymount has made their selection," the elderly professor presiding over the match nodded. He turned to the Medford team. "And who do you choose?"
The Medford team, knowing Mike's true capabilities, couldn't hide their grins.
---
Kevin, the Medford captain, looked particularly smug. After all, the strategy to have Mike play the fool was his idea. If Mike secured the championship, Kevin was ready to take at least 50% of the credit.
"Too bad they didn't pick me. I wanted to crush that curly-haired guy myself..." Kevin said, feigning disappointment before switching to a teasing tone. "So, Mike, who's the lucky victim? How about the girl with the braces? You could charm her to death..."
Relaxed and confident, Kevin's unfiltered personality was in full swing.
Despite the jokes, his suggestion was sound. Picking the non-captain member would statistically give Mike the highest win probability.
"I want Carter," Mike said, without a second of hesitation.
"Car— Carter? Are you sure?" Kevin blinked, genuinely surprised.
Kevin didn't like the curly-haired rival captain, but he respected his skills. Picking the strongest player for a "Sudden Death" single-question showdown was risky. Even Katie and the other teammates looked shocked, though they stayed silent, trusting Mike.
"I'm sure," Mike confirmed.
"Alright, it's your funeral... or his," Kevin shrugged. He turned to the moderator. "We choose the curly—uh, I mean, Carter."
He'd almost slipped up and used his nickname for the guy.
The professor ignored Kevin's slip of the tongue. "Next, I invite Carter and Mike to the center of the stage for the Sudden Death round."
Amidst encouragement from his team and applause from the audience, Mike walked out to meet Carter at center stage.
"Mike, right? You're a junior?" Carter asked. He was surprised to be picked, and that bad feeling in his gut was getting stronger.
Still, as the captain of the defending champions, he had an image to maintain. He flashed a polite, practiced smile. "I don't know where your team gets its confidence, but I hate to break it to you: Marymount is taking that trophy home."
"Is that so?" Mike chuckled at the trash talk. "Too bad. I've got my eye on that trophy, too. Let's see who wants it more."
Seeing Mike so calm—almost bored—unnerved Carter even more.
"Are you both ready?" the professor interrupted.
Both students focused and nodded.
"Excellent." The professor reiterated the rules: one question, winner take all. He stepped aside, revealing the projection screen. "Please calculate the answer to the following problem."
A limit equation appeared on the screen.
It looked short and deceptively simple. However, it was a classic trap. If you blindly applied standard limit laws or "universal formulas," you would end up with multiple contradictory answers or a simple zero—both of which were wrong.
The calculation steps required to disprove the trap were massive. Doing it without scratch paper was a nightmare.
While Carter furrowed his brow, beginning the mental gymnastics, Mike's hand was already in the air.
The professor was stunned by the speed. "Student Mike from Medford High, do you have an answer?"
"The limit approaches multiple values depending on the path, therefore, it does not exist," Mike answered firmly.
That was the second trap. The concept of an "infinite limit" or an undefined behavior often baits students into trying to calculate a specific number like 0.
But to Mike's supercomputer of a brain, the trap was obvious.
"That is... correct!" The professor smiled beamingly. "Congratulations to Mike! And congratulations to Medford High, this year's Math Olympiad Champions!"
"How...?" Carter stood there, frozen.
It happened so fast he hadn't even finished processing the first step of the equation.
The audience erupted into applause. Even the laymen understood that answering a final boss question in two seconds was insane.
Over in the Medford zone, Kevin felt a rush of euphoria like he'd just chugged an ice-cold soda on a scorching day. Seeing Carter standing there looking like a statue was the cherry on top.
Kevin lost all composure. He rushed to the center of the stage, popped his collar, and got right in Carter's face, busting out an impromptu rap.
"Medford's the best, put the rest to the test, go home to mama, we ended the drama!"
Carter, already defeated, looked at Kevin like he was an alien. He shook his head, frowning, and retreated to his team without a word.
"Okay, okay, let's have the whole Medford team on stage," the professor said, frowning slightly at Kevin's antics but letting it slide for the sake of the celebration.
"Mike! That was beautiful!"
Kevin, still riding the adrenaline high, squeezed next to Mike as the team gathered. "I knew Curly didn't stand a chance. That son of a—"
"Okay, Kevin, dial it back," Mike interrupted, cutting him off before he said something get them disqualified.
He noticed the audience and the officials giving Kevin weird looks. Kevin's "sore winner" act was getting a little embarrassing.