By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove Junior High School Chess Club members participated in the Texas Chess Association North Texas Scholastic Championships in Lewisville Feb. 28 – March 2, and came home with the state championship.
A total of seven students and four families traveled to the event. This was their first time competing.
The students played in seven rounds, starting Friday evening and ending Sunday at noon. Four of the competitors from Copperas Cove finished in the top five overall.
Eighth grader Brandon Bielecki took first place and was overall tournament champion with 6.5 points out of 7.
Sixth grader Ryder Shannon took 2nd place with 5.5 points out of 7.
Aiden Litchford, also in sixth grade, took 4th place with 5 out of 7 points.
Sawyer Sewell, in sixth grade, rounded out the top five with 5 out of 7 points.
Elijah Swaby (6th grade) tied for 8th place with 4 out of 7 points, and Liam Hill (8th grade) scored 3.5 out of 7 points. Ethan Testa (8th grade) played in the unrated sections of the tournament.
“All of our kids competed well. I am so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to continued success,” said CCJHS Principal Jeff Shannon.
Rex Burke is the Chess Club Coach at CCJHS and has coached the club for two years.
CCJHS also took home the 1st place overall state team champion award with a total of 22 points.
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