Charles County Public Schools held its annual Winter Chess Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Henry E. Lackey High School. More than 200 students competed in five grade-level divisions – kindergarten to second grade; third and fourth grades; fifth and sixth grades; seventh and eighth grades; and ninth through 12th grades.

The tournament follows a Swiss-style format in which each student plays four games. Trophies were awarded to first- and second-place winners. All other students who placed received a medal. Felix Cummings served as the tournament director.

The following students placed in their division:

Grades kindergarten through second:

  • Aundre Dudley, second grade, first place, William A. Diggs Elementary School;
  • Mason Constantine, second grade, second place, St. Mary’s Bryantown School;
  • Gregory Fletcher, second grade, third place, Mary H. Matula Elementary School;
  • James McDonald, second grade, fourth place, T.C. Martin Elementary School;
  • Alexander Baker, second grade, fifth place, Matula;
  • Elijah Jones, second grade, sixth place, William B. Wade Elementary School;
  • Matthew Sayers, second grade, seventh place, Matula;
  • Oluwaferanmi Sonuyi, second grade, eight place, Matula;
  • Finnis Dean, second grade, ninth place, Diggs;
  • Luke Barrett, first grade, 10th place, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School;
  • Rhea Pahadee, second grade, tie for 10th place, Indian Head Elementary School;
  • Joel Dotson, first grade, 11th place, homeschool;
  • Mackenzie Mears, first grade, tie for 11th place, Higdon; and
  • Cole Knopik, first grade, 12th place, Dr. James Craik Elementary School. 

Grades three and four:

  • Destiny Dudley Chaves, third grade, first place, Diggs;
  • Austin Michael, fourth grade, second place, Diggs;
  • Gavin Bullock, fourth grade, third place, Diggs;
  • Jacob Golder, fourth grade, fourth place, Matula;
  • Jaylah Stephenson, fourth grade, fifth place, Wade;
  • Ethan Phanthasy, third grade, sixth place, Craik;
  • Liam Andres, fourth grade, seventh place, Craik;
  • Simon Dean, fourth grade, eighth place, Diggs;
  • Journey Gardner, fourth grade, ninth place, Matula;
  • Mason Stakes, fourth grade, 10th place, Craik; and
  • Kayden Spencer, third grade, 11th place, Craik.

Grades five and six:

  • Caleb Rogalski, fifth grade, first place, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School;
  • Garrett Carson, fifth grade, second place, Matula;
  • Sean Robertson, fifth grade, third place, Mitchell;
  • Timothy Martinez, fifth grade, fourth place, Wade;
  • Cole Barrett, fifth grade, fifth place, Higdon;
  • William Greathouse, fifth grade, sixth place, Higdon;
  • Jason Chen, fifth grade, seventh place, Diggs;
  • Jackson Wilkinson, sixth grade, tie for seventh place, Piccowaxen Middle School;
  • Jackson Broome, fifth grade, eighth place, Mitchell;
  • Eddie Holt, fifth grade, tie for eighth place, Mitchell; and
  • Nathan Carter, fifth grade, ninth place, Matula. 

Grades seven and eight:

  • Benjamin Moore, seventh grade, first place, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
  • Rahul Mahato, seventh grade, second place, John Hanson Middle School;
  • Timothy Warren, eighth grade, third place, General Smallwood Middle School;
  • Ian Cox, seventh grade, fourth place, Matthew Henson Middle School;
  • Jackson Bowler, seventh grade, fifth place, Somers;
  • Arya Forohar, eighth grade, sixth place, Somers;
  • Jonathan Rand-Crawford, seventh grade, tie for sixth place, St. Mary’s Bryantown;
  • Dwuan Rayford, eighth grade, tie for sixth place, Smallwood; and
  • Nathan Michael, seventh grade, seventh place, Somers. 

Grades nine through twelve:

  • Sahil Patel, freshman, first place, North Point High School;
  • Jonah Trani, senior, second place, La Plata High School;
  • Joseph Papagno, freshman, third place, North Point;
  • Amber Wachowski, sophomore, fourth place, North Point;
  • Sam Guzzone, junior, fifth place, Lackey;
  • Ebin Sebastian, freshman, sixth place, La Plata; and
  • Jackob Moorehead, junior, seventh place, Lackey. 

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,900 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Patricia Vaira, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.