LUDINGTON – The 58th Annual Ludington Optimist Youth Chess Tournament was held at Ludington High School on Saturday, March 2. It is the longest-running scholastic tournament in the State. Ninety-nine students from throughout Michigan played five chess games to determine the winners in four divisions.
This was the largest turnout in the history of the tournament, breaking the record of 83 in 2002, said event chairman Tracy Thompson.
Ninth grader David Meyer from Traverse City swept undefeated through the 26 players in the High School Division for first place. Two Ludington-area students took home trophies. Josh Meisenheimer from Ludington was the victor in a playoff match for third place in the Upper Elementary Division. There were 38 participants in this division. Josh is in fifth grade at Foster Elementary School. Matthew Snyder from Ludington took second place in the Lower Elementary Division. Matthew is a third grader at Foster.
The winners in the four divisions were:
High School Division (grades 9-12):
1st: David Meyer, 14, Traverse City
2nd: Mario Arnson, 17, Muskegon
3rd: Matthew Franklin, 15, Traverse City
4th: Hoang Nguyen, 16, Muskegon
Middle School Division (grades 6-8):
1st: Joshua VanderMeulen, 14, Spring Lake
2nd: Isaac Franklin, 12, Traverse City
3rd: Keith Takens, 13, East Grand Rapids
4th: Bradin Maison, 12, Traverse City
Upper Elementary Division (grades 4-5):
1st: Daniel Franklin, 10, Traverse City
2nd: Kent Colbrunn, 11, Zeeland
3rd: Josh Meisenheimer, 10, Ludington
4th: Callen Carrier, 10, Spring Lake
Lower Elementary Division (grades K-3)
1st: Leonard Chown, 9, Traverse City
2nd: Matthew Snyder, 8, Ludington
3rd: Winfield Henderson, 7, Holland
4th: Carson Hahn, 6, Grandville
The 2013 Optimist Youth Chess Tournament was sponsored by the Ludington Optimists. It was organized by Tracy Thompson, assisted by Tom Walsh, Greg Bailey, Pete Meyer, Andy Catlin and Chris Courtright. The Ludington Optimists wish to thank Ludington High School for the use of the cafeteria, and the Carrom Company for the donation of chess boards and great games for the raffle.
.jpg)
