Five teams and three individuals will be representing McAllen ISD at the US Chess Federation SuperNationals Tournament this spring.
The teams include one from Achieve Early College High, one from Morris Middle School, two from Perez Elementary and one from Rayburn Elementary. In addition, three students qualified as individuals – one each from Morris, Fossum Middle School and Rayburn.
“We are excited for these students to have an amazing learning opportunity among the best competitors in the country,” McAllen ISD Chess Program Coordinator Rosie Fluegel said.
The event will be May 8-11 in Orlando, Florida. Here are the McAllen ISD national qualifiers and their respective divisions:
· Perez Elementary Team - Kinder/1st grade Championship Division
· Perez Elementary Team - Primary Championship Division, Grades 2-3
· Rayburn Elementary Team - Elementary Championship Division, Grades 4-5
· Rayburn Qualifying Individual (Thomas J. Aleman) - Elementary Championship Division, Grades 4-5
· Achieve Early College High Team - High School Championship Division, Grades 9-12
· Morris Middle School Team - Middle School Championship Division, Grades 6-8
· Morris Qualifying Individual (Jie Laboriante) - Middle School Championship Division, Grades 6-8
· Fossum Qualifying Individual (Richard N. Jimenez) – Middle School Championship Division, Grades 6-8
Each team consists of four players plus one alternate player.
To qualify, teams or individuals must finish in first to third place at the Champion Level in a Regional Chess Tournament (which took place in February). A player’s ranking determines their level of competition.
To compete at the regional level, McAllen ISD requires students to attend at least three local chess tournaments, maintain passing grades, demonstrate consistent attendance at practices, meet the required ranking plus other requirements set by their coach.
McAllen ISD created its chess program in 2015.