Big wins at the National Middle School Chess Championship!

Congratulations to the Nicollet Knights Middle School Chess Club, which competed in the 2024 Middle School Chess Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month. We sent 22 kids into competition, where they competed alongside nearly 1,200 other students from 36 states.

RESULTS:
• 1st place in the U700 level
• 2nd place in the U900 level
• 2nd place in the U1100 level
• 3rd place in the Blitz tournament

• Kieran Martin, grade 7, placed 1st 
• Franklin Briceno, grade 6, placed 4th
• Emery Gehrke, grade 8, placed 5th
• Torin Gehrke, grade 7, placed 11th

In addition, nearly every player increased their rating and certainly their chess experience. It was an amazing chess season and the bonds our kids have made this year are incredible. Thank you so much to everyone for your support!

Our most especial thanks goes to Coach Brian Ribnick, who has been training our students and taking them all the way to national competition for years, as well as the other coaches and masters who have helped our team this school year. Thank you also to all of the parents and community members for your support!

If you are interested in showing YOUR support, consider sponsoring our chess t-shirts for the 2024-2025 season. Contact Mark Burtnett at burtnettmark@gmail.com. Thank you!

Mark your calendar for Sept. 18 Fundraising meeting

HEY PARENTS! Want to join the Nicollet Knights Chess Club Fundraising Team to help our chess students throughout the school year? Mark Burtnett would love your help! The first meeting of the year is Monday, September 18, 6:30 p.m. at Rack’s Sports Bar & Grill, located at 2400 Cliff Road East in Burnsville. Mark your calendar today and make a plan to be there!

Congratulations to our National Champions!

For the first time in school history the Nicollet Knights came in 1st place at Nationals in the Blitz tournament! We are so PROUD of this group of students! Leading the way was 8th grader John Blomer, who placed 13th in the nation winning 9 of the 12 games. Other scorers were Theo Diep, Sammy Porta and Emery Gehrke. We will always remember walking into this event with minutes to spare due to delayed flights and coming out in 1st place! Please (click here) to the newspaper article in the local newspaper.

Also during Nationals the U700 group came in 2nd place by just half a point. Scorers were Merielle Johnson (undefeated and 3rd place), Ben Davis (4th place), Sammy Porta (17th) and Minhphuong Le. 

In the U900 section, Levi Spitznagle placed 5th and was undefeated. 

In the U1100 section, Theo Diep placed 11th.