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Students from across Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) competed in the Indiana State Chess Team Championship on March 21 at Hammond Central High School.
The statewide event, hosted by Scholastic Chess of Indiana, brought together more than 600 students from across the state to compete in team-based divisions, according to a news release from WCS.
WCS was represented across all divisions, with multiple teams earning top placements and bringing home trophies.
In the third-grade-and-under division, Madison Elementary earned a sixth-place finish, securing a team trophy. Team members included Brody Schlemmer, Sullivan Corbin, Michael Van Westen and Madhi Jeeva. Washington Elementary’s A-team also earned a trophy with a ninth-place finish, represented by Turner Allison, Caleb Zingale, Canaan Howe and Haji Mohammed. Washington’s B-team placed 13th overall, with a performance from a young team that included three first-graders competing in a division primarily made up of third grade students.
In the sixth-grade-and-under division, Lincoln Elementary placed 11th, followed by Madison in 22nd, Washington in 23rd and Leesburg in 24th.
At the middle school level, Edgewood Middle School earned a 10th place finish in the eighth grade and under division, bringing home another team trophy. Team members included Luke Macke, Sultan Mohammed, Isaiah Powers, Kellen Mellentine, Elijah Reneker and Owen Lewis.
To reach the state championship, teams first competed in a regional qualifying tournament, with top teams advancing to the finals. The Indiana State Chess Team Championship represents the culmination of the scholastic chess season and one of the largest youth chess events in the state.
