Chess Team exceeds expectations at SBA city qualifier
The Chess Team continues to bring home many trophies and medals. Matthew '29, Preston ’29, and Stewart '25 have earned coveted spots in the 2020 Nashville City Championship.
By Todd Andrews, Chess Team Coach
The third and final 2020 Nashville City Championship Qualifier was held Saturday, November 23 at nearby St. Bernard Academy with 192 players participating in five sections based on grade level and experience.
USN cemented its spot as the most represented school in Nashville's premier event with three qualifiers total (Preston Chan '29, Matthew Golann '29, and Stewart Hall '25). Since these scholars had all previously qualified, they played up to be on their teams in the more experienced levels and helped bring team trophies home in each section.
In the High School (K-12) Division, the two-man team of Kunaal Saggi '21 and Hall finished third overall with both walking away trophy winners (Stewart in ninth and Kunaal in tenth).
In the Junior High (K-9) Division, the three-man squad of Evan Hauser '25, Collin Chan '25, and Brendan West '25 finished third overall led by Hauser, who placed seventh individually.
In the Elementary (K-6) division, a group of primarily third and fourth graders pushed the older kids around and took first place. Henry Hirt '28 led the charge with four out of five wins, garnering him the fourth place individual trophy. Chan, Golann, Loch McMillan '28, Will Nichols '28, Houston Hirt '28, and Asha Guha '28 all won medals to round out this championship team.
With these previously qualified players playing up, USN did not field a team in the K-3, K-1 or unrated sections.
Our next big event will be the team championship on Saturday, January 25 at St. Paul where USN will try to defend not only a K-3 State Title but also a K-6 Regional Title. Students interested in participating on one of the USN teams should sign up with Coach Todd Andrews before Winter Break.
Sgt. Anthony Jones joined University School of Nashville in November as a School Resource Officer, a certified police officer who is primarily assigned to a school and provides safety and security-related functions, including emergency response, safety training, traffic direction, and patrol functions.
University of Virginia selected Margot Ross '24 to be a Jefferson Scholar. The highly selective scholarship includes the full cost of attending UVA for four years of study as well as numerous enrichment opportunities. It has been 16 years since a University School of Nashville senior last became a Jefferson Scholar.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.