Quinn Leno (left) of Georgia and Andrew Royan (right) of Craftsbury, get ready to compete during the 37th annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships held at Craftsbury Academy March 24. Craftsbury freshman Andrew Royan took 5th place in the high school category. One hundred ninety-two K-12 students from 67 schools and home schoolers throughout Vermont competed.
CRAFTSBURY – One hundred ninety-two registered players from all corners of the state descended on Craftsbury Academy for the 37th Annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Tournament on Sunday, March 24.
Arriving to a bluebird day with deep snowbanks from Saturday’s storm, players in grades K through 12 and parent supporters congregated in Craftsbury’s World War II Memorial Gymnasium, with multiple rounds of chess played in classrooms throughout the school building from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m.
While the tournament has been in existence for decades, this is Craftsbury’s first year as host. The newly-formed Craftsbury Chess Club collaborated with longtime event organizer Mike Stridsberg to carry on the tradition.
Craftsbury sixth grader Hollis Allen (right), makes a move during his game with Monroe Schwarz of Montpelier at the 37th annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships hosted by Craftsbury Academy Sunday. Allen took 2nd place in the sixth grade category.
Students from nearly 70 schools participated in the tournament along with a number of home-school students. Five rounds of play allowed students to be paired with an array of other players to face different playing styles and strategies. The event was supported by many volunteer helping hands, from parking attendants to room monitors and greeters, homemade chili chefs and everything in between.
Students from the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) put in a strong showing, with 32 students from Hardwick, Wolcott, Lakeview, and Craftsbury filling the ranks of players.
The players of Craftsbury took home the Middle School Team State Championship trophy. Wolcott first-grader Cyrus McCarty placed 2nd in his category, with fellow Wolcott first-grader Jude Warfisch following up in 3rd. In Grade-three, Craftsbury’s Lawrence Fox placed 3rd. In grade-six, Craftsbury’s Hollis Allen took 2nd place and Craftsbury seventh-grader Max Royan grabbed 3rd place in his category.
In the high school category, the students of Lamoille Union, with a large contingent of Lancer chess players earned the team trophy
In his welcoming address, Craftsbury Academy Middle School English Language Arts teacher Todd Rivver called it a great day for the students, school, and community, reminding everyone to “celebrate the students for the work they put in all year to get to the big event day.”
Polly S. Allen is a community journalist located in Craftsbury Common.
