FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Our Lady of the Valley Knight School chess team recently placed third in the state at the Alabama State Scholastic Chess Tournament held in Jacksonville.

Taking the stage to receive the trophy were Andrew Kanatani, Eduardo Cedeno, Maricio Cedeno and Maggie Mahoney.

The team is coached by David Brooks, Ph.D, and meets weekly after school.

“The day was filled with intriguing chess situations from which the OLV Chess Team gained invaluable experience,” Brooks said. “As always, these four fine young people comported themselves with perfect sportsmanship and graciousness.”

This is the second year the OLV Chess Team has been in existence.

In it is first year, it was the winner of the 2007 Diocesan Chess Championship and in December 2007, it captured first place in the Knight School Christmas Chess Tournament.

This was OLV’s first appearance in the State Tournament and the only elementary school from the Diocese of Birmingham to compete.

The members of the Knight School OLV Chess Team are:

Mathew Cerfolio, Jack McGuire, Andrew Kanatani, Mathew Steele, Jack Christensen, Maggie Mahoney, Thomas Gibson, Justin Rice, Eduardo Cedeno, Mauricio Cedeno, Andrew Guillory, Gavin Jones, Warren Shader, Juan Jose Campos, Daniel Matos and Connor Jenkins