THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260193
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
The chess team from Great Bridge Middle School South placed seventh in the nation last week in the open team competition of the National Junior High School Chess championship in Orlando, Fla.
At the national competition, each player had two hours to complete their moves, which meant that one game could take up to four hours from beginning to end.
``I told my players not to worry about the clock because I stress thinking,'' said Bob Ellyson, the team's coach and a science teacher at the school.
Over 900 players and 100 teams competed in the national championship. Ellyson estimates his team played over 28 hours of chess in just three days.
Amon Asgharpour, the Chesapeake city champion and the regional champion, carried the team at nationals.
``He really led us, winning 4 1/2 out of seven matches,'' said Ellyson. Bobby Keller, Sean Jones, Brian Asher, David Cavitt, Dan Archer, Joseph Andrews and Robert Dubois also participated in the national competition.
The journey to Orlando began a few weeks ago when the chess team, Ellyson and his wife, Aundrea, the team's other coach, traveled to Pulaski, Virginia to compete in the state finals.
Ellyson's players took the title, one that had been held by Pulaski Junior High for 15 of the last 17 years. Great Bridge Middle School South last held the state title in 1992.
``What was so impressive was the fact that my players were competing and winning against players that had higher rankings,'' said Ellyson.
``It showed that we've been studying pretty hard,'' he added.
The team has come a long way in a short period of time, said Ellyson.
``When I get the students in the eight grade, I have to start from scratch and I only have two years to turn them into players that can compete at the national level,'' he said.
Ellyson's coaching style is a mix of theory and hands-on experience.
``From the beginning of school to mid-semester, we just work at getting better. Then we pick the top players and prepare for the state and national competitions,'' he said.
Ellyson has coached the Great Bridge Middle School South team for eight years and the team has been nationally ranked every one of those years.
Despite the team's success, it's possible that the school won't be represented at next year's competitions.
``I'll be leaving for either Hickory High School or Great Bridge High School next year,'' said Ellyson. ``If no one comes forward to coach the chess team, I guess they just won't have one.''
The chess team from Great Bridge Middle School South placed seventh in the nation last week in the open team competition of the National Junior High School Chess championship in Orlando, Fla.
At the national competition, each player had two hours to complete their moves, which meant that one game could take up to four hours from beginning to end.
``I told my players not to worry about the clock because I stress thinking,'' said Bob Ellyson, the team's coach and a science teacher at the school.
Over 900 players and 100 teams competed in the national championship. Ellyson estimates his team played over 28 hours of chess in just three days.
Amon Asgharpour, the Chesapeake city champion and the regional champion, carried the team at nationals.
``He really led us, winning 4 1/2 out of seven matches,'' said Ellyson. Bobby Keller, Sean Jones, Brian Asher, David Cavitt, Dan Archer, Joseph Andrews and Robert Dubois also participated in the national competition.
The journey to Orlando began a few weeks ago when the chess team, Ellyson and his wife, Aundrea, the team's other coach, traveled to Pulaski, Va., to compete in the state finals.
Ellyson's players took the title, one that had been held by Pulaski Junior High for 15 of the last 17 years. Great Bridge Middle School South last held the state title in 1992.
``What was so impressive was the fact that my players were competing and winning against players that had higher rankings,'' said Ellyson.
``It showed that we've been studying pretty hard,'' he added.
The team has come a long way in a short period of time, said Ellyson.
``When I get the students in the eighth grade, I have to start from scratch and I only have two years to turn them into players that can compete at the national level,'' he said.
Ellyson's coaching style is a mix of theory and hands-on experience.
``From the beginning of school to mid-semester, we just work at getting better. Then we pick the top players and prepare for the state and national competitions,'' he said.
Ellyson has coached the Great Bridge Middle School South team for eight years and the team has been nationally ranked every one of those years.
Despite the team's success, it's possible that the school won't be represented at next year's competitions.
``I'll be leaving for either Hickory High School or Great Bridge High School next year,'' said Ellyson. ``If no one comes forward to coach the chess team, I guess they just won't have one.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Members of the Great Bridge Middle School South chess team that
placed seventh nationally are, on the front row from the left: David
Cavitt, Brian Asher, Bobby Keller, and Joseph Andrews; back row:
Amon Asgharpour, Robert DeBois, Sean Jones and Dan Archer. Science
teacher Bob Ellyson is the team's coach
by CNB