News Detail
Putting the Board in Boarding School
When Steven Abrahams came to New Hampton last year, the school hadn’t had a chess club in many years. Steve met a few people who knew how to play chess, and the desire to organize a team evolved.
Making up the school’s first year team were seniors Drew Kelsey, Christie Fritz, Melissa Marini, Meg Harris, and freshman Steven Abrahams. Steve Cramton, a very good chess player and school snowboard and soccer coach, was free in the afternoons, so the team formed during the 2004 Spring Term.
Not having many expectations, the team became very good and went to two individual tournaments and one team event. At the Scholastic State Team Championships, NHS placed a very respectable third, considering that only three members played so one board was forfeited in each round. The next tournament, in Boston, pitted the young team against people of all ages and all levels. Drew placed 8th, Christie placed 10th, and Steven placed 11th out of 12 players in their section. After below par performances there, the team traveled to Harrisville, New Hampshire, for a scholastic tournament, where the New Hampton students swept the field. Drew placed 2nd, Steven placed 3rd, and Christie placed 4th of the 19 people in their section. The team finished with a record of 18.5 wins/draws and 11.5 losses/draws.
This year’s team boasts some strong players. Although Steven is the only returning member of the team, he was also last year’s first board. Alex Podgayetskyy, a senior from Ukraine, is a great addition to the team. The addition of some enthusiastic new members promises a bright season for this fledgling team. Of the tournaments the team will play, the one they most want to win is the New Hampshire Scholastic State Championships. Having four players participating this year will definitely help.
Alex Slover, Alex Podgayetskyy, Jeff Mitchell, Justin Levy, Wes Hoffer, and Steven Abrahams are members of the 2005 chess team. Steve Cramton will be the head coach of the team. He is rated USCF 1685.
Playing first board this spring is sophomore Steven Abrahams, the only returning member of the team. He had a very strong freshman performance handling the pressure of first board last year. He won the individual championship of the New Hampshire State Team Championship with a record of 3-0. He is rated USCF 1449. He has a USCF rated tournament record of 34.5-22.5.
Playing second board will be senior Alex Podgayetskyy. He has played chess since he was young, having learned from his grandfather. Russia is the world’s unofficial capital of chess, and growing up there allowed Alex to be exposed to all kinds of players. He is not USCF rated but looks forward to the American competition.
The next two boards are undecided. Those may be filled by any of the four other players on the team. Sophomore Jeff Mitchell is an “off hand” player who has great potential. Alex Slover, a freshman, is a solid player with good tactics for a beginner. Junior Wes Hoffer is a very sly player whose ideas when playing create very good positions which will serve him well as he gains experience. Justin Levy, a postgraduate whose first love is hockey, has some good ideas which the team expects he will put to good use.
Faculty members Steven Cramton, Luis Zerpa, Patrick Flaherty, and students Alex Podgayetskyy, Matthew Hamel, Alexander Slover, Jeff Mitchell, Steven Abrahams, Wesley Hoffer, and Justin Levy are all active members in the New Hampton School chess community.
If you play chess and are in high school, please email Steven Abrahams for information on becoming a member of the team (beez2310@msn.com).
For the New Hampshire State Team Championships results, please visit http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?040417249.1
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Making up the school’s first year team were seniors Drew Kelsey, Christie Fritz, Melissa Marini, Meg Harris, and freshman Steven Abrahams. Steve Cramton, a very good chess player and school snowboard and soccer coach, was free in the afternoons, so the team formed during the 2004 Spring Term.
Not having many expectations, the team became very good and went to two individual tournaments and one team event. At the Scholastic State Team Championships, NHS placed a very respectable third, considering that only three members played so one board was forfeited in each round. The next tournament, in Boston, pitted the young team against people of all ages and all levels. Drew placed 8th, Christie placed 10th, and Steven placed 11th out of 12 players in their section. After below par performances there, the team traveled to Harrisville, New Hampshire, for a scholastic tournament, where the New Hampton students swept the field. Drew placed 2nd, Steven placed 3rd, and Christie placed 4th of the 19 people in their section. The team finished with a record of 18.5 wins/draws and 11.5 losses/draws.
This year’s team boasts some strong players. Although Steven is the only returning member of the team, he was also last year’s first board. Alex Podgayetskyy, a senior from Ukraine, is a great addition to the team. The addition of some enthusiastic new members promises a bright season for this fledgling team. Of the tournaments the team will play, the one they most want to win is the New Hampshire Scholastic State Championships. Having four players participating this year will definitely help.
Alex Slover, Alex Podgayetskyy, Jeff Mitchell, Justin Levy, Wes Hoffer, and Steven Abrahams are members of the 2005 chess team. Steve Cramton will be the head coach of the team. He is rated USCF 1685.
Playing first board this spring is sophomore Steven Abrahams, the only returning member of the team. He had a very strong freshman performance handling the pressure of first board last year. He won the individual championship of the New Hampshire State Team Championship with a record of 3-0. He is rated USCF 1449. He has a USCF rated tournament record of 34.5-22.5.
Playing second board will be senior Alex Podgayetskyy. He has played chess since he was young, having learned from his grandfather. Russia is the world’s unofficial capital of chess, and growing up there allowed Alex to be exposed to all kinds of players. He is not USCF rated but looks forward to the American competition.
The next two boards are undecided. Those may be filled by any of the four other players on the team. Sophomore Jeff Mitchell is an “off hand” player who has great potential. Alex Slover, a freshman, is a solid player with good tactics for a beginner. Junior Wes Hoffer is a very sly player whose ideas when playing create very good positions which will serve him well as he gains experience. Justin Levy, a postgraduate whose first love is hockey, has some good ideas which the team expects he will put to good use.
Faculty members Steven Cramton, Luis Zerpa, Patrick Flaherty, and students Alex Podgayetskyy, Matthew Hamel, Alexander Slover, Jeff Mitchell, Steven Abrahams, Wesley Hoffer, and Justin Levy are all active members in the New Hampton School chess community.
If you play chess and are in high school, please email Steven Abrahams for information on becoming a member of the team (beez2310@msn.com).
For the New Hampshire State Team Championships results, please visit http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?040417249.1
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