Chess team places fifth in State play

FLINT, Mich. – Cheboygan Area High School’s chess team placed fifth in the Michigan Chess Association High School Team Tournament during the weekend at Kettering University in Flint, Mich.

Nearly 200 of the best high school chess players in the state gathered for the annual tournament. Cheboygan’s fifth-place finish was from among the 25 teams in its division.

Cheboygan has established a name for itself in chess, earning five trophies in the last five years at the State tournament. The string began in 2003 with a fourth-place finish. Cheboygan took fourth and sixth in 2004, with both its A team and its B team placing the State. In 2005, Cheboygan had its highest finish ever, earning second in the State. In 2006, the team fell just short of a trophy, said Coach Jess Miller.

Cheboygan’s A Team this year consisted of four seniors. The team was lead by Nate Luttmann, followed by Jordan Velandia, Charlie Ciarkowski and Andy Goebel. Junior Brad Brown was the alternate. The Cheboygan A team beat Detroit Cass Tech, Battle Creek Phoenix, and Grand Blanc. They lost to Ann Arbor Clague in the second round, but still finished the tournament with three match points out of four possible, and 11 board points out of a 16 possible, Miller reported.

Cheboygan’s B Team was led by freshman Lou Agee, and junior Raleigh Cooper. The other two boards were shared by senior Tony Romanik, freshman Cody Dodd and freshman Jerry Spray. The Cheboygan B team beat Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook. It tied Dearborn Fordson and Detroit Cass Tech. They lost to Flint Kearsley. Overall it earned two match points and eight board points, Miller said.

In individual play, the chess team earned four medals, which is a Cheboygan record at the State tourney.

Here is the full article.

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