Nov. 2, 2022 - This year, the Comal Independent School District is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its chess program, and close to 300 students from kindergarten through 12th grades recently competed in the first of four chess tournaments presented by the district.
The host team of Pieper High School took the top spot as the high school champions, while Danville Middle, Rebecca Creek Elementary and Oak Creek Elementary took home the team trophies for the middle and elementary categories.
Coached by Kara Cecil, the PHS team includes Massimo Meneses, 11th-grade; Matthias Meneses, 9th-grade; John Shenouda, 10th-grade; Michael Shenouda, 10th-grade; and Ryan Stuck, 11th-grade.
These champions will go head-to-head in an invitation-only Tournament of Champions in May. The next tournament, Saturday, Nov. 12, at Davenport High School, is no longer accepting participants since it has reached its capacity.
The remaining two tournaments are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at Canyon Lake High School, and Saturday, April 15, at Smithson Valley High School. These tournaments are for Comal ISD students only and are capped at 300 students. On-site registration is not available, and parents are required to stay on-site for the duration of the event. Register HERE.
Pieper High School, Oct. 22, Tournament Results
Elementary – Kindergarten-Second-Grade
- Team: Oak Creek Elementary School, coached by Sheila Pfeffer. Students: Lucas Alverez, second-grade; Corbin Aurora, first-grade; Lennox Barahona, second-grade; Hudson Warner, second-grade; and Caitlynn Williams, first-grade.
- Individual First Place – Liam Huange, second-grade, Indian Springs Elementary
- Individual Second Place – Lennox Barahona, second-grade, OCES
- Individual Third Place – Hudson Warner, second-grade, OCES
Elementary – Third-Fifth Grade
- Team: Rebecca Creek Elementary, coached by Sheldon Vamper. Students: Jasper Barden, fourth-grade; Whitney Middlebrooks, fifth-grade; Caleb Parra, fifth-grade; Catherine Parra, third-grade; and Jake Wadle, fifth-grade.
- Individual First Place – Omar Houston, fifth-grade, Specht Elementary
- Individual Second Place – Jake Wadle, fifth-grade, RCES
- Individual Third Place – Jacob Ellison, third-grade, ISES
Middle School – Sixth-Eighth Grade
- Team: Danville Middle School, coached by Matthew Ditta. Students: Maverick Fisher, eighth-grade; Tanner Oliphant, sixth-grade; Kaden Skinner, eighth-grade; Xavier Wolff, eighth-grade; and Joshua Jax Zamarrripa, sixth-grade.
- Individual First Place – Asher Lippe, sixth-grade, Canyon Middle
- Individual Second Place – Joshua Jax Zamarripa, sixth-grade, DMS
- Individual Third Place – Thomas Chick, sixth-grade, Spring Branch Middle School
High School – Ninth-12th Grade
- Team: Pieper High School, coached by Kara Cecil. Students: Massimo Meneses, 11th-grade; Matthias Meneses, ninth-grade; John Shenouda, 10th-grade; Michael Shenouda, 10th-grade; and Ryan Stuck, 11th-grade
- Individual First Place – Massimo Meneses, 11th-grade, PHS
- Individual Second Place – Sam Savett, 10th-grade, Smithson Valley High School
- Individual Third Place – Michael Shenouda, 10th-grade, PHS
Overall Campus Participation
- Elementary – Kinder Ranch ES
- Middle – Peiper Ranch MS
- High School – Hill Country College Preparatory HS
Congratulations!
-The Oak Creek Elementary chess team took home the Elementary Kindergarten-Second Grade category champion title at the first chess tournament of the season.
-The Rebecca Creek Elementary chess team took home the Elementary Third-Fifth Grade category champion title at the first chess tournament of the season.
-The Pieper High School chess team took home the High School category champion title at the first chess tournament of the season.
-Liam Huange from Indian Springs Elementary took first place in the Kindergarten-Second Grade category.
-Lennox Barahona from Oak Creek Elementary took second place in the Kindergarten-Second Grade category.
-Hudson Warner from Oak Creek Elementary took third place in the Kindergarten-Second Grade category.
-Omar Houston from Specht Elementary took first place in the Third-Fifth Grade category.
-Jake Wadle from Rebecca Creek Elementary took second place in the Third-Fifth Grade category.
-Jacob Ellison from Indian Springs Elementary took third place in the Third-Fifth Grade category.
-Asher Lippe from Canyon Middle School took first place in the Middle School Category.
-Joshua Jax Zamarripa from Danville Middle School took second place in the Middle School Category.
-Thomas Chick from Spring Branch Middle School took third place in the Middle School Category.
-Massimo Meneses from Pieper High School took first place in the High School Category.
-Sam Savett from Smithson Valley High School took second place in the High School Category.
-Michael Shenouda from Pieper High School took third place in the High School Category.
-The Kinder Ranch Elementary chess team received the Overall Elementary Campus Participation award.
-The Pieper Ranch Middle School chess team received the Overall Middle School Campus Participation award.
-The Hill Country College Preparatory High School chess team received the Overall High School Campus Participation award.