Henderson Middle School chess team raising money for national championship

The Henderson Middle School chess team is raising money for the SuperNationals VI chess championship in Nashville, Tennessee.

The team has competed in state championships since 2013, bringing back several awards. This year, the team won 1st place in Novice, 1st place in JV and 4th place in Championship. The team was also deemed Champions of the North Central in the middle school division, winning a total of 29 trophies.

Now the team is hoping to make it to the national championship in May. The team has created a GoFundMe account and has raised a little more than $35,000 out of their $40,000 goal.

The team of more than 30 students is made up of 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The team practices for a couple of hours each day from Monday- Saturday. The intense training requires a lot of focus and sacrifice.

“It requires lot of practice, you have to go home for hours and practice with some of your friends, or family, until you’ll eventually start getting good at it,” one student said.

The team’s coach, Saul Ramirez, says it’s more than just a game of chess for the students.

“We have economically disadvantaged students, we have students with a lot of family problems, we have students who have great parents, we have students of all sorts and types just like everywhere else and once you get to know them personally, it becomes more of a one one thing and they understand you care about them,” Ramirez said.

For 7th grader Viviana Paola Macias, chess is her refuge and Coach Ramirez is like family.

“My dad passed away Christmas morning, so I was kind of lost, and that’s why I kinda joined chess, but he’s like my dad, he always cares for us, he always puts us first,” Macias said.

“I’m extremely proud, because I can say their a reflection of me, and of everything I do and the things I teach them.”

As the team gears up for nationals, they hope to take the lessons Coach Ramirez has taught them and make El Paso proud.

“It’s just so important for us to go win and show El Paso we can do this and show everyone who we are and what we do,” Macias said.

To donate, click HERE.