News Release, Charles County Public Schools
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) held its annual fall chess tournament on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Thomas Stone High School. A total of 150 students participated in the event, which is open to any student in kindergarten through Grade 12.
The tournament follows a Swiss-style format in which each student plays four games. Students compete in eight grade-level divisions and trophies are given to division champions. Students who earn a top finisher award in their respective categories receive a medal, and all participants receive a performance certificate.
Felix Cummings served as the tournament director. The following students were recognized for placing in their division:
Kindergarten through First Grade
- Luke McDonald, first grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School, division champion
- Henry Blass, first grade, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, top finisher
- Andrea Dudley, first grade, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Deven Dudley, kindergarten, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Derek Fletcher, first grade, Mary H. Matula Elementary School, top finisher
- Marshall Fletcher, first grade, Matula, top finisher
- Sophia McDonald, first grade, Martin, top finisher
Second-Grade Division
- Dayten Moore, private school, division champion
- Carlos Borders, William B. Wade Elementary School, top finisher
- Ashley Golder, Matula, top finisher
- Ujini Joshi, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, top finisher
- Neha Mahato, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, top finisher
- Justice Rodriguez, Wade, top finisher
- Uriah Seger, Indian Head Elementary School, top finisher
Third-Grade Division
- Orlando Rodriguez Jr., Wade, division champion
- Luke Barrett, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, top finisher
- Samuel Binsol, Wade, top finisher
- Gideon Romero, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, top finisher
- Lionel Saravia, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, top finisher
- Hrishi Soni, Matula, top finisher
- Caden States, Berry Elementary School, top finisher
Fourth-Grade Division
- James McDonald, Martin, division champion
- Andrew Cook, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, top finisher
- Aundre Dudley, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Gregory Fletcher, Matula, top finisher
- Kendal Johnson, Mary B. Neal Elementary School, top finisher
- Aurora Larkin, Billingsley Elementary School, top finisher
- Rowan Leonard, Higdon, top finisher
- JaKai Moore, Maryland International Day School, top finisher
Fifth-Grade Division
- Destiny Dudley, St. Mary’s Bryantown, division champion
- Christopher Ellison Jr., Craik, top finisher
- Julius Fowlkes, Billingsley, top finisher
- Zephaniah Greene, Wade, top finisher
- Jesse Hodgson, Matula, top finisher
- Sophia Hughes, Wade, top finisher
- Gregory Lavender, Wade, top finisher
- Ethan Phanthasy, Craik, top finisher
Sixth-Grade Division
- Nathanael Jean-Gilles, Theodore G. Davis Middle School, division champion
- Jacob Golder, Milton M. Somers Middle School, top finisher
- Nicholas Pankowski, Somers, top finisher
- Anthony Thwaites, Davis, top finisher
Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Division
- Timothy Martinez, seventh grade, Davis, division champion
- Cole Barrett, seventh grade, Piccowaxen Middle School, top finisher
- Nathan Carter, seventh grade, Somers, top finisher
- Alfred Johann Cruz, seventh grade, Mattawoman Middle School, top finisher
- Joseph Miller, eighth grade, Somers, top finisher
- Sean Robertson, seventh grade, Piccowaxen, top finisher
Ninth through 12th-Grade Division
- Joseph Papagno, junior, North Point High School, division champion
- Rahul Mahato, freshman, Stone, top finisher
- Andrew Miller, freshman, St. Charles High School, top finisher
- Jacob Miller, junior, St. Charles, top finisher
- Jacob Stern, junior, North Point, top finisher
