Whitefield K-5 Team Wins State Chess Championship

After years of hard work, practice, and diligence, the Whitefield K-5 Chess Team recently went undefeated through five rounds to win the state K-5 chess championship, hosted by the Georgia Chess Association. Sixty-six teams from across Georgia were invited to Peachtree Ridge High School to compete for the 2017 Georgia Championship titles in four sections: Pre-Primary (K-1), Primary (K-3), Elementary (K-5), and Middle School (grades 6-8). Following second place finishes at the state competition in both 2015 and 2016, Whitefield’s team of six, 5th grade students competed against a strong field of 26 other K-5 teams from across Georgia. The Whitefield team is coached by Kyle Justice, a parent and upper school math and computer science teacher at the school.

In the first round, the Whitefield team prevailed on every board, securing a 5-0 first round score. Facing progressively tougher competition, the team won 4-1 in each of the next two rounds. Moving into the fourth round with three wins, Whitefield was paired against the top-seeded team in the event. Drew Justice, playing the highest rated player in the K-5 section, came away with a win, again leading the team to a 4-1 match score. In the final round, facing the only other undefeated team, Walker Paxton got things going with a quick win. Needing one more win for the state championship title, Whitefield team members Efetobo Aror and Christian Wiggins were at the board for close to an hour. Both players simultaneously pulled out wins to secure victory for Whitefield, with Efe finishing the day 5-0. The K-5 team, supported throughout by alternate Archer McBride, garnered a total of 21 out of 25 points and won the title outright as the only team with a perfect 5-0 score. Coach Kyle Justice said, "Whitefield chess teams have been pursuing a state championship title for over ten years. Most of the members of this year's team have been playing together since kindergarten. Winning the K-5 championship is a remarkable and inspiring accomplishment for these players, the chess program, and our school."

Located in Smyrna, Whitefield Academy is a Christ-centered, college preparatory school serving more than 800 students in PreK4 through 12th grade. Whitefield’s tight-knit, family-focused community is unique, providing students a learning environment with top-notch academics, while facilitating the discovery of student talents and interests. With more than 50 sports teams and an award-winning fine arts program, Whitefield students hone their skills, develop deep relationships with God and others, and enjoy pursuing their passions both in and out of the classroom. For more information, visit whitefieldacademy.com.