Emporia, KS - After a somewhat uneven season where they won two regional events, had to settle for third in three others, and were kept from travelling to three more by weather, the TMP-M High School Chess Team brought home the Kansas Scholastic Chess Association's State 2A-1A team title last Saturday in Emporia, additionally tying for first place among all school categories!

The high school team, Blaise '26 Staab and Eli '26 Stein, Zack '28 Billinger, Colby '28 Schmeidler, Ethan '28 Gibson, Cade '28 Schlautman, James '28 Dickman, and Dylan '28 Billinger, scored seventeen team points to finish even with 5A Bishop Carroll, but took home the 2nd place overall trophy on tiebreaks.

Individually, Blaise finished 7th out of 153 players with 5 points out of six, while Eli finished 29th, Zack finished 34th, and Colby finished 37th, each with 4 points.

Team competition was close throughout the event between 5A Bishop Carroll, and Maize South, 4A Chanute, and 2A TMP and Ellinwood, but by winning on all four boards in the final round, TMP jumped past the other competition to tie with Bishop Carroll. After the dust had settled, Bishop Carroll and TMP were tied at 17 team points, Chanute had 16.5, Ellinwood had 16, and Maize South had 15.5.

The TMP-M Junior High, after a season where they earned one 1st Place finish, two 2nd Place finishes, and two 3rd Place finishes, scored fourteen team points to finish in 6th Place, behind Washburn Rural (19), St. Francis of Assisi (16.5), Frontenac (16), Indian Hills and Royster (14.5).

Individually, Caden '29 Pinkney finished 29th out of 144 players with 4 points, while Alex and Braden '30 Unrein finished 50th and 53rd respectively with 3.5 points.

435 players competed Saturday, in all grade and school classifications. 25 high school teams, 22 Junior High teams, and 29 Elementary teams were represented.

Hays Catholic Schools

Chess Team Caps Season with State Championship