January 26, 2022 - Almost 300 students in kindergarten through 12th grade participated in Comal Independent School District’s second of four chess tournaments of the school year on Nov. 13 at Pieper High School. The big news came when the newcomers from PHS upset the reigning high school champions from Canyon Lake High to take the first-place trophy in their category.
With two more district-wide tournaments left in the year, the competition will be intense on Feb. 5 at Davenport High School and April 9 at Smithson Valley High School. The tournaments are for Comal ISD students only, and pre-registration is required. The Feb. 5 tournament has reached capacity, however is no longer accepting registrations. Registration information and learn more about Comal ISD Chess.
This school year marks the district’s ninth year to host tournaments focused on chess, the board game which has gained a lot of traction and popularity recently. Often called the game of life, chess teaches players to think logically, develop pattern recognition, test memory, stay focused and think ahead.
Students in Comal ISD at all grade levels are given the opportunity to learn the game and stay connected with other players through chess clubs which have been formed in elementary, middle and high school campuses across the district.
Chess is just another opportunity for students to find their passions and to be involved in activities outside the classroom.
The chess champions from the PHS tournament are listed here by category.
First Place – Overall Campus Participation
- Kinder Ranch Elementary - Coach Peggy Finley
- Mountain Valley Middle School – Coach Ray Amaro
- Canyon Lake High School – Coaches: Ben Ceyanes and Charles Van Houten
First Place Team Competition
- Kinder-Second Grade: Indian Springs Elementary, Coach Carrie Brooks
- Third-Fifth Grade: Arlon Seay Elementary, Coach Sheldon Vamper
- Middle School (6-8th Grade): Pieper Ranch Middle School – Coach A’ndrea Fisher
- High School (9th-12th): Pieper High School – Coach Leslie Weil
Individual Top Three: Kinder-Second Grade
- First Place: Cade Pipkin, second grade, Startzville ES
- Second Place: Daniel De Leon, first grade, Specht ES
- Third Place: Lucas Alvarez, first grade, Oak Creek ES
Individual Top Three: Third-Fifth Grade
- First Place: Thomas Chick, fifth grade, Arlon Seay ES
- Second Place: Colt Loftin, fifth grade, Arlon Seay ES
- Third Place: Deven Maddox, fifth grade, Rebecca Creek ES
Individual Top Three: Middle School (Sixth-Eighth Grade)
- First Place: Finnley Greissinger, seventh grade, Smithson Valley MS
- Second Place: Keshav Singh, eighth grade, Pieper Ranch MS
- Third Place: Gresen Patton, eighth grade, Mountain Valley MS
Individual Top Three: High School (Ninth-12th Grade)
- First Place: John Shenouda, ninth grade, Pieper HS
- Second Place: Cade Mellon, 12th grade, Canyon Lake HS
- Third Place: Michael Shenouda, ninth grade, Pieper HS
Congratulations!
-The Pieper High School chess team won the high school team category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-The Pieper Ranch Middle School chess team won the middle school team category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-The Arlon Seay Elementary chess team won the third-fifth grade category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-The Indian Springs Elementary chess team won the kindergarten-second grade category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Kinder Ranch Elementary won the overall participation award for elementary campuses at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Mountain Valley Middle School won the overall participation award for middle schools at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Canyon Lake High School won the overall participation award for high schools at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Cade Pipkin, second grade from Startzville Elementary, won the kindergarten-second grade category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Thomas Chick, fifth grade from Arlon Seay Elementary, won the third-fifth grade category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-Finnley Greissinger, seventh grade from Smithson Valley Middle School, won the middle school category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.
-John Shenouda, ninth grade from Pieper High School, won the high school category at the second district chess tournament on Nov. 13, at PHS.