Old Quarry Middle School Seventh Grade Chess Team Finishes Fourth In State

LEMONT, IL — Nineteen Old Quarry Middle School students traveled to the IESA Chess state tournament last month, and brought back several individual medals and a fourth-place finish for the seventh grade team.

The tournament was held Feb. 27-28 in Peoria. The team is coached by head coach Alyssa Hansen and assistant coach Alex Kleskan.

Hansen said the team placed third in the SDEAA conference tournament, which was held the weekend before state.

The 19 students who went to state competed in a total of eight rounds, five on Friday and three on Saturday, Hansen said.

"Four of our players earned individual bronze medals, an impressive achievement awarded to students who win six out of eight rounds. Out of 811 participants, only 85 received this honor (about 10 percent), highlighting just how challenging it is," she said.

Medalists included eighth grader Kayla Z., seventh graders Hazel S. and Charanjeet A., and sixth grader Burnham B.

The seventh grade team earned fourth place out of 61 teams, " narrowly securing the spot by just half a point after a tight finish in the final round," Hansen said. The eighth grade team placed 13th out of 62 teams.