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WHS Chess Club takes third place in State Competition

Polacek, Elder & Wolf all raise their USCF ratings

March 12, 2018

Despite being one player short, Wahoo High School's three-man chess team placed 3rd in a State competition on Mar. 3 against six other teams from Nebraska schools. Pictured from left are WHS Chess Club Sponsor Larry Fangman, junior Mathew Wolf, junior Noah Polacek, and sophomore Marshall Elder.

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Despite being one player short, Wahoo High School's three-man chess team placed 3rd in a State competition on Mar. 3 against six other teams from Nebraska schools. Pictured from left are WHS Chess Club Sponsor Larry Fangman, junior Mathew Wolf, junior Noah Polacek, and sophomore Marshall Elder.

On Saturday, March 3, Wahoo High School hosted the team state championship, which included six other high school chess clubs in Nebraska: Omaha Central, Millard North, Battle Creek, Omaha Skutt, Omaha Burke, and Omaha North.

In the team tally, Wahoo finished in third place behind runners-up Omaha Central, and the state champion, Millard North. 

Noah Polacek led Wahoo with four wins and one loss. In the meet, Polacek improved his school record from a USCF rating of 1303 to a USCF rating of 1327. Polacek’s only loss was to Khoa Nguyen of Millard North, who has a rating of 1583.

Marshall Elder and Mathew Wolf also chipped in with winning records to help Wahoo’s cause. Elder and Wolf both won three matches and lost twice. Wolf raised his USCF rating from 583 to 594, while Elder raised his rating from 582 up to 589. 

“The guys did great against tough competition,” said Wahoo Chess Club Sponsor Larry Fangman. “Because of other activities, we played with three players who counted toward the team score, while the other teams had four players who scored, so it was a great effort by our three guys.”

Wahoo High School’s next meet will be at the Fremont Chess Festival on April 21.