What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
When Alexander Jelen walked into the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for this year’s math competition, he wasn’t just carrying a calculator. He was carrying a family legacy and four years of determination that would culminate in something rare: a perfect score.
The D.C. Everest High School senior from Weston achieved what few students ever do at the Central Wisconsin Mathematics League competition — a flawless 300 points in Advanced Mathematics. It’s his fourth consecutive year claiming the top spot, cementing a dynasty that has made the school a Northwoods powerhouse in academic competition.
“I’ve always liked math as a sort of puzzle,” Jelen said. “I get competitive with it.”
Success at this level doesn’t happen by accident. For Jelen, math has been part of the family conversation since childhood.
“My family all enjoys math, my parents were in this when they were kids,” he explained. “It’s been going on for a while.”
That intergenerational connection to problem-solving reflects something special about communities like Weston. Without the constant distractions of urban life, Northwoods families often pass down passions — whether it’s fishing techniques, hunting knowledge, or in the Jelen household, mathematical thinking.
The CWML competition has been fostering this kind of talent since 1970, hosting three meets annually where students tackle 55-minute exams in Geometry, Algebra, and Advanced Mathematics.
Not every math team member arrives with natural confidence. Wilvan Slyke, another D.C. Everest competitor, initially doubted he’d even make the squad.
“Coming in, I didn’t think I was even going to make the math league, never mind do well on it,” Slyke admitted.
His breakthrough came from an unexpected place: the hockey rink. While sitting on the bench during games, Slyke would practice multiplication and division using players’ jersey numbers. Those small moments of mental exercise built the foundation for competition success.
“I think it’s just a testament to my work ethic and perseverance through any challenges and problem solving.”
Stories like Slyke’s resonate in the Northwoods, where hard work and persistence aren’t just values — they’re survival skills passed down through generations of loggers, guides, and small business owners.
The CWML offers something increasingly rare: free, accessible academic competition for students across central Wisconsin. In a region where median household incomes run below state averages, these opportunities matter.
For students from smaller Northwoods communities, the three-meet season provides:
D.C. Everest, with its enrollment around 1,900 students, has built a program that consistently produces these success stories. The school’s 2024 championship run set the stage for this year’s continued dominance.
The team’s success doesn’t happen in isolation. D.C. Everest’s math program benefits from dedicated coaches who recognize talent and create space for it to grow.
The dynasty label isn’t hyperbole. Year after year, the school sends students to UWSP’s campus in Stevens Point, about 30 miles south of Weston, where they compete against schools from across the region. The three-meet format — held in November, February, and late March — tests endurance as much as mathematical ability.
Awards arrive in late April at a banquet where families gather to celebrate. For Jelen’s family, those gatherings have become tradition, with parents who once competed now watching their son exceed their achievements.
There’s something about growing up surrounded by forests and lakes that shapes how kids approach challenges. Maybe it’s the long winters that encourage indoor focus. Maybe it’s the self-reliance that comes from living in a place where you can’t just order everything delivered.
Whatever the reason, schools like D.C. Everest prove that academic excellence thrives in rural Wisconsin. The competition rules level the playing field — no expensive equipment, just knowledge and problem-solving ability.
Students compete in three categories, each testing different skills but all requiring the same mental toughness that Northwoods kids develop navigating icy roads, helping with family businesses, or spending hours perfecting a skill whether anyone’s watching or not.
As Jelen graduates and moves on to whatever challenges come next, his perfect score stands as a benchmark for future D.C. Everest students. It’s proof that dedication, family support, and a competitive spirit can produce extraordinary results.
For Slyke and other returning team members, next season offers another chance to build on the dynasty. The first meet will arrive in November, bringing another round of 10 a.m. competitions where Weston students will board buses heading south to Stevens Point.
The CWML has been hosting these competitions for over 50 years, giving generations of central Wisconsin students the chance to test themselves. In that way, it’s not so different from opening day of fishing season or the first snowfall when the trails open — traditions that connect us to the past while pushing us toward the future.
Ya know, that’s what makes the Northwoods special. Whether you’re perfecting a math proof or a musky presentation, the dedication looks the same.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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