ORONO — Bangor High School won the State Scholastic Chess Team Championship for the high school category on March 6 at the University of Maine’s Memorial Union.

Nearly 250 students from around the state competed for honors from elementary to high school. Also at stake were individual achievements leading to invitation to the individual championships on March 20.

Bangor High took four rounds in match play. Members of the winning team were Henry Chai, Andrew Audibert, Keji Xu, Scott Dennis and Kellon McDonnell.

Tied for second were John Bapst of Bangor and Thornton Academy of Saco. John Bapst took home the trophy on tie breaks through the play of Aaron Spencer, Margaret Bryan, Kurt Eyerer, Daniel Honeycutt and Deanna Power.

Invited to the individual tournaments based on team play were: Keji Xu and Kellon McDonnell, Bangor, 4.0 points; Aaron Spencer and Margaret Bryan, John Bapst, 3.5; Yuval Boss, Orono; Brandon Greaton, Thornton Academy; and Sam Touchette, Westbrook, 3.0. The top girl scorer was Margaret Bryan of John Bapst. The top unrated player was Cam Prescott of Cheverus.

Cape Elizabeth defeated Orono Middle School, 17-15, for the Junior High Championship, kindergarten to grade eight.

Top scorers for Cape Elizabeth were Matthew Fishbein, Wesley Parker, Matthew Reale-Hatem, Daniel Brett, Ethan Duperre and Nicholas Shedd. Top scorers for Orono were Jesse Amar, Nash Allan-Rahill, Anthony Bottie, Helen Zhang and Justin O’Brien. The top unrated player was Jesse Amar, and Anna Bryan of the Airline Community School took the trophy as the top girl scorer.

In the Elementary Championship, kindergarten through grade six, Deer Isle-Stonington returned to championship form, besting second-place Airline School, 17-13.

Top team scorers for Deer Isle-Stonington were Bethany Humphrey, Soozin Cha, Brendan Penfold, Ethan Shephard and Matson Oliver. Airline School fielded Laddy DeLuca Lowell, Max DeLuca Lowell, Zachary Grindal, Isaiah Massey, Oliver Sheehan and Sam Keefe. The top girl scorer was Laddy DeLuca Lowell.

Breakwater School in Portland won the K-3 Championship, kindergarten through grade three, with team honors decided by total of the team’s top three scorers. For Breakwater, they were Ian Youth, Eric Youth and Samuel Rallis.

Tied for second place were Pond Cove Elementary School of Cape Elizabeth and All Saints School in Bangor. Top scorers for All Saints were Michael Hayden and Timmy Robinson. The top-scoring girl was Avery Reynolds of Deer Isle-Stonington.

In the High School Reserve section, Bangor High took first over Deer Isle-Stonington. The Bangor team included Paul Rudnicki, Josh Audibert and Nathan Dee. Scorers for Deer Isle-Stonington were Nick Eaton, Connor Moray and Alec Eaton. Paul Rudnicki was undefeated and was invited to the individual championships.

In the High School Novice section, Belfast Free Library Chess Group defeated Piscataquis Community High School. Playing for Belfast were Patrick Thayer, Clayton Clemetson and Cameron Jack. Playing for PCHS were Henry Carfagno, Benjamin Maines, Darius Shaffer and Richard Ryckman. Patrick Thayer and Clayton Clemetson both were undefeated.

Bucksport took first place in the Junior High School Novice section, with Belfast Free Library’s Middle School Chess Club second. Playing for Bucksport were Adam Bohlen, Kaitlen Arey, Gabriel Flegel, Dakota Appleby and Eric Carlson. Playing for Belfast were Tucker Caldwell and Alex Johnson. The top novice player was Patrick Coyne of William S. Cohen School in Bangor.

In the Elementary Novice section, the winning team was Stepping Stones Montessori School of Augusta, with team members Isaac Bell, Gabe Gervais, Joshua Bell and Holly Bridger. In second place was Belfast Free Library Chess Group with Chase Sanders, Isabel Kelly, Bryce Caldwell, Christopher Thayer, Caleb Wallace and Kirk Stillman. The top individual performer was Isaac Bell.

Elementary and junior high players in the championship sections who scored 3.0 points or more are invited to play in the Individual Championships on March 20 with no entry fee. Others may enter by paying the entry fee.

Tournament leaders were Ryan Tripp and Ron Lewis. Tournament directors were Philip Lowell, Lee Doucette and Tom Sandford. Trophy awards were coordinated by Bob Solinger, with support from other volunteers, parents and coaches.

The next event is the Maine State Scholastic Individual Championships on March 20 at the University of Maine. The Maine representative to the U.S. Chess Federation Denker High School Invitational will be decided.

A side event, the Sidekick Quads, will be held for adults the same day, with proceeds benefiting Maine scholastic chess. All events will be held at the University of Maine Memorial Union. Visit ChessMaine.net for information and entry forms and pictures from the team championships.