CHESS Is KING At Lindbergh Schools
Hard work has paid off, with Lindbergh ranked as the number one chess district in the state.
by Amanda Cook
02/05/2010 – They sit hunched over the game boards, rubbing their chins while deep in thought. The room is filled with pairings that seem both meditative and kinetic.
The Gateway Chess League Team Tournament is not for the faint of heart.Lindbergh School District hosted the tournament on Jan. 30, where over 350 students in grades K-12 represented 40 schools.
Like any competition, the players come with a serious mission to win.
“The high school team practices every day after school and also tries to get together during lunch. They don’t have a lot of time, so it teaches them to think fast,” said Coach Rick Nelson.
Nelson and his fellow coach Sam Kassis – a former Lindbergh player – also work with Sperreng Middle School’s chess team twice each week.
The commitment and focus have paid off. Lindbergh is rated the number one district in Missouri, with Sperreng Middle School taking the top honors in the “8th Grade and Under” category for three of the past five years.
“I think that we’ve gained some respect because we’ve been successful. People look at us differently when they know we’re winning,” said high school team captain Keegan Barrett.
Here is the full article.
Fantastic stuff.