Impact Leadership Academy Chess Team Brings Home National Medals​​

Disponible en:

Standing tall as the sole representative from Aldine ISD, Impact Leadership Academy advanced to compete in the national competition, pitting their skills against over 1,200 of the nation’s top middle school players from over 35 states.

The team’s journey, a testament to their unwavering spirit, was marked by sheer perseverance and steadfast dedication. At the 2024 National Middle School (K-8) Championships, Impact Leadership Academy’s U900 team placed seventh in the nation, and its U700 team earned 12th, a truly remarkable achievement.

Impact Leadership U900 Team — 7th in Nation

Diego Baires, Daniel Chinchilla, Armando Hernández & Bryce Moore

Breakdown: Daniel 5 out of 7 wins; Armando 4 out of 7 wins; Diego 4 out of 7 wins; and Bryce 4 out of 7 wins
Worth Mentioning: Daniel Chinchilla placed 20th in the nation

Impact Leadership U700 TEAM — 12th in Nation

Joaquin Cantú, Dylan Estrada, Anthony Flores & Kristopher García

Breakdown: Anthony 5 out of 7 wins; Joaquin 4 out of 7 wins; Kristopher 3.5 out of 7 wins; and Dylan 3.5 out of 7 wins — Dylan is a second-grade student this year
Worth Mentioning: Anthony Flores placed 30th in the nation

Additional team members that advanced to compete at the national level included Emmanuel Asuquo, Brander Fuentes, Leonardo Gerardo, Alexandre Gómez, Javier Martínez, Jaime Medina, and Celso Vicente.

Art teacher Toby McCraw coaches the team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these young men,” said McCraw. Last year, we finished as District Champions. This year, we ranked among the top seventh and 12th! What is next? A year of #YearOfGreatness!”

Principal Jonathan Kegler thanks everyone who has supported the students and to the family members who could travel with the team to nationals, adding that this journey has been a “family affair.”

Among the parents was Horacio Cantú, who posted on social media that he “had such a great time” with his son Joaquín, adding that this was his son’s first year playing competitive chess. The proud father was ecstatic that Joaquin’s team placed 12th in the nation.

According to Principal Jonathan Kegler, only 1,200 students in grades K-8 advanced to the 2024 U.S. Chess National Championship. Kegler added that Impact Leadership Academy did not have a single eighth grader to compete this year and was only five wins away from being crowned a National Champion this year, making the future very promising for this group of chess players.

“It has been a whirlwind,” said Kegler. “Next year is already setting up to be a great year as the chess team is already fielding calls from both coasts and abroad to come out and compete.”