Last weekend, the Frenship High School Chess Club competed against more than 300 students from across Texas at the Texas Chess Association North Texas Scholastic Chess Tournament. With strategic moves and sharp gameplay, the team of five students outmaneuvered their opponents, placing 4th in the JV section securing a spot at the SuperNationals VIII Championship this May.
The state chess tournament grouped individual competitors into sections based on their ratings, ensuring fair matchups against opponents of similar skill levels. Frenship’s players made a strong impression, with two students finishing in the top 12 out of 68 competitors in the JV section and one student earning a high enough rating to qualify for the varsity section.
Abby Freo, a science teacher at Frenship High School, took on the role of chess club sponsor in 2021, shortly after learning the game herself. New to the chess community, she connected with local tournament directors to help students develop their strategies and master various openings. She also invited the organizer of Check with Tech, a Texas Tech University chess program, to lead club practices and introduce students to different variations of the game.
Freo explained that chess is a great outlet for students because it allows them to compete with other like-minded students. She went on to emphasize how chess provides students with valuable skills that extend beyond the board.
“Chess fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students which is what we ultimately want our students to acquire before entering the job force or higher education,” said Freo. “I'm hoping that the recent excitement about our chess club will build all regional chess programs and bring awareness to the great qualities it instills in our student body.”
The chess team is set to compete in the SuperNationals VIII Championship, part of the US Chess Junior Grand Prix, in Orlando, Florida, from May 9-11.
Congratulations to the Frenship state competitors and good luck at nationals!
- Massimo Villaneuva (freshman) - played in Varsity section
- Bradley Calcote (sophomore) - placed 8th out of 68 players in JV section
- Caleb Verett (junior) - placed 12th out of 68 players in JV section
- Sean Bobb (sophomore) - placed 32nd out of 68 players in JV section
- Isabelle Guiterrez (sophomore) - competed in section