TMP-M

Six Monarchs were awarded medals at the Kansas Scholastic State Chess Tournament, held at the Emporia State University Student Union. In the K-12 (High School) Section of 147 entrants, freshman Nicklas Helget scored four of a possible 6 points to claim 32nd Place.

Five of the eight members of the junior high team earned medals in the 216 player K-8 Section. Caden Becker led the team with 5 of a possible 6 points and a 10th place finish. Achieving 4 points were Jensen Brull (32nd Place), Tate Dinkel (40th Place), Braydon Binder (53rd Place) and Jacob Mader (54th Place). Also competing were Adrian Normandin (3.5 points), Henry Meitner (3.0 points) and Jadyn Zimmerman (3.0 points).

The junior high team tallied 17.0 points to finish fifth behind Harmony Middle School of Overland Park (20.0 points), Washburn Rural Middle School of Topeka (17.5 points), Lawrence Southwest Middle School (17.5 points) and St Mary’s Academy of St. Mary’s Kansas (17.0 points). Team scores combine the top four individual scores for a team and are supplemented by a tiebreak system based on the scores of opponents faced in the tournament. All schools, regardless of size, compete in the same K-8 section.

The state tournament normally marks the end of the chess year, but on account of a January weather postponement, the Kansas Grade Championship remains on the schedule for April 6. This tournament draws entrants from schools statewide and is organized so that each competitor plays only against others of their own year in school. TMP-Marian is expected to have entries in the 7th, 8th and 9th grade sections of that tournament.

The young Monarchs have shown significant growth throughout the year and would like to thank all who have supported the team.

“We are ready to welcome the students who choose chess as part of their 2019-2020 experience at TMP-Marian,” said Coach Randy Brull.