Last Saturday, the Chanute High School Blue Comet Chess Team traveled to Columbus and swept the leaderboard, taking the top 11 spots with the 11 players they brought, with the top four remaining undefeated.
Jacob Hurtado, Nathan Studebaker, Madan Greve, and Eric Erbe took first through fourth place with a perfect 6 winning scores; Benjamin Blakesley and Imerson Vaughan took fifth and sixth place with 5.5 wins; Logan McMillan, Logan Boeken, and Brayden Baker took seventh through ninth place with 5 wins; and Kai Steves and Brycen Warriax took 10th and 11th place with 4 wins.
The total team score was measured by the team’s top four scores, and because the top four players were undefeated, the team earned a perfect 24-point score, a feat that is unheard of. In comparison, Columbus, who took second place, had a team score of 10.5, making Chanute’s win a landslide victory.
“That’s the kind of focus and consistency coaches dream about,” said Coach Kyle Gregg in a Facebook post. “That kind of performance doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because of preparation, teamwork, and heart … This team is special. They are disciplined, determined, and humble. They show up, they work hard, and they play for each other. When that happens, great things follow. As their coach, I could not be prouder.”
All of the players who went undefeated were upperclassmen except for Madan Greve, a freshman competing in the high school division for the first year. “It feels great to get 6 points,” Greve said. “It’s difficult for a freshman to compete in high school varsity. Going 6-0 Saturday shows that I can compete against the best.”
Winning four games, Kai Steves is also a freshman enjoying the high school chess experience. “This tournament made me feel proud of how much I’ve improved,” Steves said. “I started on the middle school chess team during the end of last year. This is the best I have ever done in a tournament, and even though I didn’t win all six games, I could see the progress I’ve made and how much I’ve learned from each game. It was a good reminder that every match is a chance to get better and show how far I’ve come. I’m proud of my effort and I’m excited to keep learning while having fun with this team. I am truly thankful I joined last year and I can’t wait for the years that come.”
To learn more about the Blue Comet Chess Team, visit the Chanute High School Chess page on Facebook.
