History

According to Ken Steege, Mathematics Department Chair and Teacher (retired) from Manitowoc Lincoln High School the Fox Valley Mathematics League (FVML) had its beginnings with Math Bowls hosted by Lincoln starting in the spring of 1 966. Other schools such as Kaukauna, Ripon also hosted similar meets (he has record of one hosted by Ripon on February 27, 1971). Lincoln's last non-FVML Math Bowl was held on Saturday, April 26, 1975.


The FVML was organized in the Fall of 1976 and the first meets were held during the spring of the 1976-1 977 school year. This first year there were 7 schools listed as league members and 4 meets were held. The original 7 schools were Fox Valley Lutheran, Kaukauna, Manitowoc Lincoln, Lourdes Academy, Oshkosh North, Oshkosh West, Ripon. Copies of the Oshkosh North, Kaukauna, and Ripon meets indicated they were held on the following Saturdays: February 7, March 6, and April 3, respectively. The meets were moved to Mondays for the 1977-78 year. The Oshkosh North team won the League trophy that year with Kaukauna a close second. The league fee may have been $5 per school and the record shows that Ken collected $30 (I wonder which school didn't pay?).


The 1977-8 final standings show that there were 8 schools (Roncalli was added) and again 4 meets. The dues were increased to $10 (all 8 schools paid!) Ken had a list of the Schools and the Advisors for this year.

    • Fox Valley Lutheran - Dave Pelzl
    • Kaukauna - Jim Treadway
    • Lourdes Academy - Richard Knobloch
    • Oshkosh North - Al Jacobs
    • Oshkosh West - Gerald Bruss
    • Ripon - Chuck Reigel
    • Roncalli - Sue Schneider
    • Lincoln - Ken Steege


By the 1979-80 school year 5 meets were held and the dues had increased to $20. St. Mary's Springs had joined the League. The original written meets had 4 individual events and a team event but the individual events were Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Math, and Problem Solving. Students (or the Advisor) declared ahead of time which 3 of the 4 events would count toward their final score. The 4th event score was used as a tie breaker.


In 1980-81 Green Bay West joined the League and Manitowoc Lutheran joined the next year. The 11 schools and advisors for the 1981-82 year were as follows:

    • Fox Valley Lutheran - Lauris Plath
    • Green Bay West - Bill Zigmund
    • Kaukauna - Jim Treadway
    • Lincoln - Ken Steege
    • Lourdes Academy - Richard Knobloch
    • Manitowoc Lutheran - Joyce Diels
    • Oshkosh North - Robert Dalton
    • Oshkosh West - Gerald Bruss
    • Ripon - Lance Schulz
    • Roncalli - Sister Paulus
    • St. Mary's Springs - Kathleen Bachhuber