The Washington “B” team celebrating following victory at the state level.
(Photo provided by Jay Bolduc)

Students at Washington and Madison elementary schools are celebrating after a battle of wits at the state level. The Washington and Madison chess teams both made it to the state competition under the tutelage of chess team instructor and music teacher Jay Bolduc.

Bolduc has taught chess at WCS for the past 12 years with teams placing in the state division for all 11 years that Madison has tried to qualify. Washington, who more recently adopted a chess club, has had students place at state all three years of the program’s existence.

According to Bolduc, there are two age divisions for each elementary school; third grade and under and a sixth grade and under. The third and under team for Madison placed third in a regional competition held in Goshen on February 21 with Washington’s third and under chess team placing first. The sixth and under “A” team from Madison placed second at regional while the “B” team qualified for state with a sixth place finish. The sixth and under teams from Washington were both close to qualifying for state, however, Madison’s teams bumped Washington’s out of the running in the final round.

The teams traveled to Terre Haute on Friday, March 20, where they ate dinner and spent time swimming at their hotel that evening. The next morning, the competition kicked off at 9 a.m. and continued on to 7 p.m.

Bolduc noted that the third grade and under division was very competitive. A total of 59 teams competed with only 10 receiving trophies. Though the second through tenth place teams all had the same number of wins, due to a computer formula that takes into account the strength in schedule of teams, Washington took fourth place and Madison placed ninth in the state. Bolduc noted that Washington’s placement was due to the fact they played slightly harder teams than Madison.

Though Washington has only had a chess club for three years, the third and under teams have placed in the top 10 each year. Bolduc noted that the sixth and under team at Washington has a very strong group of fourth grade players and expects the team to place well in the years to come as they develop their chess skills. The team placed second in the state while playing in the third and under category in 2014.

Bolduc also explained that Madison’s sixth and under team placed 16th with three out of five wins. Teams from eighth place to 17th place all had three wins, however due to strength in schedule, Madison placed 16th.

Though the teams are done playing for the year, Bolduc noted the chess teams will begin preparing for competitions again in the fall.