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Ransom Knights Chess Team Recognized For National Ranking
April 24, 2013
The Ransom Knights chess team was recognized Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board for their national ranking.
Four of the the Knights — Devon High, Nicholas ZaBelle, Joshua Moody and Rodriguez Smith — placed third in the nation in the Supernationals V Scholastic Chess Tournament in Nashville. With 5,335 students competing, it was largest chess competition in history.
“This is the first time in the history of the Escambia School District that we have had a chess team come back nationally ranked,” Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. Thomas presented the entire Knights team with their trophy Tuesday night.
“I want each of you to look up there at those young men, courageous men,” an emotional chess team sponsor John Lowe told the school board. “This is the proudest moment of my career.”
Lowe said the board should investigate avenues to fund chess clubs in all schools because it appeals to all demographics regardless of ability. As an example, he said a highly autistic student that was unable to control himself transferred into his class.
“I sat him across a chess board, showed him how to play. And now he behaves,” Lowe said. “He does his work, because at the end of the week, he knows he gets to play me in chess,.”
Members of the Ransom Knight chess team are Devon High, Shacorey Moss, Nick Zabelle, Connor Stuckey, Ryan Carty, Dillan Frisbie, Joshua Moody, Devin Searcy, Tristan Taylor, Rodriquez Smith, Travis King, Dawson Margeson, Zachary Donaldson, Isaiah Hansen, Johnathan Hendren and Paul Ashton.
High is currently ranked 19th in the nation, while Zabelle is ranked 20th.
Pictured top: Ransom Knights sponsor John Lowe with team members at Tuesday night’s Escambia County School Board meeting. Pictured inset: Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (right) and board member Bill Slayton presented the group’s trophy. Pictured below: The Ransom Knights chess team. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
10 Responses to “Ransom Knights Chess Team Recognized For National Ranking”
CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. Lowe and the Ransom Knights!!! I have always been so proud that our son, Corey, was part of the very first Ransom Chess Club. He loved it and and we are so proud of you all!!!
Congratulations Joshua Moody! I am proud of you. I know your parents are!!!!!
Mrs. Karen Mattox
Congratulations to the whole team! My son was on the team last year and it was an amazing experience and Mr. Lowe is wonderful!
Mr Lowe is right this would be great for children that love sports but unable to play this would give a child like that a since of self worth.
My daughter was in this chess group 2 years ago and it is a great avenue for the kids.Thanks to Mr. Lowe for his hard work.
Congratulations! One of the best mind-exercising acticities there is. I agree that it should be offered/taught in all schools. It teaches THINKING – a concept that seems to be almost archaic nowadays.
Congrats to all.
It is good to see students engaged in cereberal activities and not just the physical.
Congratulations Ranom Knights.
Great job! We are so proud of you all! Mr. Lowe and Mrs. Reading deserve a huge THANK YOU for such a great accomplishment! Without wonderful sponsorship from teachers and school administrators, these guys would have NEVER made it to Supernationals.
These guys will take the things that you’ve taught them with them for the rest of their lives. We are blessed to have such amazing sponsors lead this great team!
That is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations to the team. What great news.