Pentagames was developed during the 1983-84 school year by representatives from seven Mid-Willamette Valley schools. Led by Cheryl Klampe-Van Hess (Stayton Middle School), this group adapted the concept of intra-school competition to math at the middle school level. Other members of the original committee included: Rhonda Boles (Yamhill Grade School), John Buckingham (LaCreole Junior High), Mary Langevin (Scio Middle School), Marge McDowell (Cascade Junior High), Jan Nelson (Talmadge Middle School), and Richard Pritchett (McMinnville Middle School).
On May 4, 1984, Stayton Middle School hosted the first Pentagames competition. Nine schools participated. Pentagames has grown to between 80 and 90 schools competing each year at up to ten locations.
Pentagames offers the opportunity for students to experience the excitement and challenge of competition, but in an academic arena, where players will vie for team and individual recognition.
The daylong event will involve solving a wide range of mathematics problems in five distinct formats, hence the name Pentagames. Each school will be represented by three member teams from the seventh, eighth, and algebra/open levels. These nine students will compete for individual, team, and school awards presented at the conclusion of each event.