Chanute High School Chess

Chanute High School Chess This page is where we will post about our tournaments and upcoming events that we are doing.

08/13/2026

I will be in room 106 tonight during CHS open house for anyone interested in playing chess this season! Thanks Coach Gregg

03/20/2026

Today, we mourn the loss of a true Blue Comet Chess legend.

Not a player.
Not a coach.
Not even a trophy.

Coach Gregg's Lawn Chair.

For the last 3 years, this absolute warrior has stood beside Blue Comet Chess through everything. It was there shortly after I was hired as coach, and from that point on it became a permanent fixture of the program. It has seen tournament prep, pre and post-round stress, long nights, big wins, tough losses, and more chess talk than any piece of furniture should ever have to endure.

This was not just a chair. This was family.

It was a silent but dependable member of the team. A steady presence in the room. A veteran of the grind. While others came and went, that chair stayed locked in, day after day, year after year, carrying the weight of the program with quiet dignity and more than a few loose rivets.

Sadly, after 3 years of loyal service, the old warrior has finally broken beyond repair.

The loss is devastating. The room feels different. The team will be shaken. Morale will be low. Grief counselors have not been called in yet, but we will be monitoring the situation.

There is no replacing what this chair meant to the program. Some things are furniture. Some things are legacy.

Rest easy, old friend.
You served with honor.
You bent so we would not break.

The trophy is coming home.For the first time in more than 3 decades, Chanute High School is bringing the All-State Chess...
03/15/2026

The trophy is coming home.

For the first time in more than 3 decades, Chanute High School is bringing the All-State Chess Championship trophy back where it belongs.

This weekend, Blue Comet Chess won the 2026 All-State Championship with 18.5 team points in a 149-player field. Followed by Thomas More Prep and Blue Valley West with 17 points each, with Thomas More taking 2nd on tiebreaks.

The All-State perpetual trophy began in 1983. Chanute won it in 1988 and again in 1995. Now, in 2026, this team has added its name to that history.

The four scores that built the championship total came from:

Jacob Hurtado with 5 points and an 8th place finish
Madan Greve with 5 points and a 12th place finish
Eric Erbe with 4.5 points and a 13th place finish
Logan McMillan with 4 points and a 21st place finish

Those four performances gave Chanute the winning score and brought home the biggest team honor in Kansas scholastic chess.

The team also captured the Kansas 4A Class State Championship, marking the 9th straight year that Blue Comet Chess has won the 4A title. That kind of consistency says a lot about the standard these players continue to uphold.

What makes this special is not just the trophy, the points, or the finish. It is the work behind it. The early mornings, the long trips, the pressure, the preparation, and the way this group kept showing up for each other all season long. This team earned something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

There is a lot to be proud of here. This group did not just win a tournament. They added to a tradition, honored the teams that came before them, and gave Chanute High School another moment that will be remembered for a very long time.

1988. 1995. 2026.
All-State Champions.
9 straight 4A titles.
Adding to the Legacy.

03/15/2026

Blue Comet Chess is #1 in the State!!!!!

Blue Comet Chess wrapped up the regular season today at Chanute Middle School the same way they have all year long. Anot...
03/08/2026

Blue Comet Chess wrapped up the regular season today at Chanute Middle School the same way they have all year long. Another 1st place finish with 21 points out of a possible 24, this team once again showed exactly who they are. From the top of the lineup to the bottom, Blue Comet Chess came ready to work, stayed locked in, and finished strong on our home boards.

Leading the way were seniors Jacob Hurtado and Eric Erbe, who played in their last regular season tournament and finished 1st and 2nd overall. Ben Blakesley and Madan Greve were right behind them with 5 points each, finishing 3rd and 4th, while Logan Boeken added 4.5 points and finished 5th. Imerson Vaughan finished 9th with 4 points, Logan McMillan and Mark Davidson Jr each scored 3, and Xevan Reynolds and Kai Steves kept battling through the final round and added 2 points each. It was another complete team effort and another reminder that this group knows how to show up when it is time to compete.

With today’s win, we finished the regular season UNDEFEATED with 10 tournaments attended and 10 first place finishes. Ten straight tournaments. Ten straight team titles. That kind of season does not happen by accident. It happens because of preparation, mental toughness, consistency, and a team that has bought in from day one. This group has put together something special, and they have earned every bit of it.

Now the focus shifts to the biggest stage of the season. Next weekend, we will travel to Emporia for the Kansas State Scholastic Chess Championships. Qualifying players are senior Captains Jacob Hurtado and Eric Erbe, junior Nathan Studebaker, sophomores Ben Blakesley, Logan Boeken, Logan McMillan, and Imerson Vaughan, and freshmen Madan Greve and Kai Steves.

I am so proud of this team and everything they have accomplished so far. They have represented Chanute with grit, discipline, and class all season long, and now they have a chance to take everything they have built and test it against the best in Kansas. The regular season is over. The mission now is simple. Head to Emporia and keep adding to the legacy.

Today Blue Comet Chess traveled to Frontenac. Because of the size of our squad compared to the rest of the K-12 division...
03/01/2026

Today Blue Comet Chess traveled to Frontenac. Because of the size of our squad compared to the rest of the K-12 division, we were required to split into two teams. We did it because we had to, but honestly, we don't like it. We are one team. We want to compete together, not get forced into playing our own teammates.

That said, our kids handled it the right way. They kept it respectful, stayed focused, and still went to work.

Team 1: Jacob Hurtado, Eric Erbe, Nathan Studebaker, Madan Greve, Kai Steves
1st Place with 19 points

Team 2: Logan Boeken, Logan McMillan, Imerson Vaughan, Mark Davidson, Ben Blakesley
2nd Place with 12 points

Individual awards
2nd Jacob Hurtado with 5 points
3rd Madan Greve with 5 points
4th Nathan Studebaker with 5 points
6th Eric Erbe with 4 points
7th Kai Steves with 4 points
11th Logan Boeken with 3 points
12th Imerson Vaughan with 3 points
13th Logan McMillan with 3 points
14th Ben Blakesley with 3 points
21st Mark Davidson Jr. with 2 points

What makes this one special is that Team 2 did not get an “easy road.” They had to run into the strongest players in the tournament, and a lot of those strongest players were wearing the same colors. That is a tough spot for any kid, especially in chess where one mistake can undo a whole round. They fought anyway, stayed composed, and brought home 2nd place.

Proud of the win, proud of the hardware, and even more proud of the maturity and toughness these players showed when the situation was not ideal.

We made the trip to Parsons today and had one of those days that coaches love; focused, steady, and businesslike from ro...
02/15/2026

We made the trip to Parsons today and had one of those days that coaches love; focused, steady, and businesslike from round one to the last handshake. The kids showed up ready, stayed patient when positions got messy, and kept finding a way to turn good games into wins.

Individual medal winners:
🥇 1st – Jacob Hurtado (5.5/6)
🥉 3rd – Eric Erbe (4.5/6)
4th – Ben Blakesley (4.5/6)
6th – Nathan Studebaker (4/6)
7th – Logan McMillan (4/6)
8th – Logan Boeken (4/6)
14th – Kai Steves (3/6)
16th – Xevan Reynolds (3/6)

But the best part was the team effort. We took 1st place as a team with 18.5 points, finishing 9 points ahead of 2nd. That’s not one big performance carrying the day; that’s everyone doing their job, round after round.

I’m proud of the way they represented Chanute: respectful, composed, and confident without getting loud about it. They win the right way, by staying humble, staying hungry, and always improving. We’ll celebrate this one, then it’s back to work to get ready for Frontenac in 2 weeks.

The Blue Comets had a strong day in Coffeyville yesterday and we’re proud of the way the team competed. Madan Greve led ...
02/08/2026

The Blue Comets had a strong day in Coffeyville yesterday and we’re proud of the way the team competed. Madan Greve led the way with a perfect 6 out of 6, earning 1st place. Right behind him, Jacob Hurtado and Eric Erbe each scored 5 points, finishing 3rd and 4th, and Logan Boeken added 4.5 points for a 5th place finish. Those four scores made up our team total, and they did a great job staying focused through all six rounds.

Here are the full individual results:
1st: Madan Greve — 6 points
3rd: Jacob Hurtado — 5 points
4th: Eric Erbe — 5 points
5th: Logan Boeken — 4.5 points
6th: Logan McMillan — 4 points
7th: Ben Blakesley — 4 points
11th: Imerson Vaughan — 3 points
20th: Kai Steves — 2 points

Team Results
1st Place: Chanute — 20.50 points
2nd: Labette County High School — 12 points
3rd: Independence High School — 11.50 points

This win makes it six straight team 1st place finishes this year, but the goal stays the same: keep improving, keep learning, and keep representing Chanute the right way. We’ve still got a lot of chess ahead of us, and we’re going to stay hungry.

Chanute rolled into Pittsburg today missing all three of our seniors… and still walked out with the first place trophy.L...
12/07/2025

Chanute rolled into Pittsburg today missing all three of our seniors… and still walked out with the first place trophy.

Let that sink in.

Our underclassmen didn’t flinch. They didn’t panic. They stepped up, filled the gaps, and proved that the future of Blue Comet Chess is not just bright. It is dangerous for anyone sitting across the board.

As a team we took 1st place with 17 points. Monett followed with 15 and Independence finished with 14, but the Comets controlled the day from start to finish.

And these performances were not quiet.

Madan Greve lit it up with a powerhouse 2nd place finish and 5 points.
Logan McMillan came in swinging and earned 7th with 4 points.
Imerson Vaughan played sharp and steady for 8th with 4 points.
Nathan Studebaker locked in 9th with 4 points, grinding through tough boards all afternoon.
Ben Blakesley hit 12th with 4 points and showed veteran level composure, even without the seniors beside him.
And
Mark Davidson Jr. fought hard through every round for 18th with 3 points.

This was a statement win.

A young roster. A tough field. A lot of pressure. And our younger players proved they have the heart, the discipline, and the fight to carry this program forward.

Proud doesn’t begin to cover it. This team is growing, believing, and showing the state exactly what Blue Comet Chess is made of.

The future is here, and today they showed everyone that they can carry the weight.

12/05/2025

The results from tonight's raffle drawing. Thank you so much to everyone that donated and supported this team. You have no idea what you mean to us!
GiGi's Taters Gift Card- Logan Wright
Smokey D's BBQ Gift Card- Angela Espinoza
2026 Fall Sports Pass- Katy Rodriquez
Cooler- Jennifer Luna- Donated Back to the Team
Bench made by CMS Steam Class- Jas Reitz

Please contact Coach Gregg at CHS to arrange pickup of winnings.
PS. Sorry if this video makes anyone seasick... Eric Erbe was in charge of recording. LOL

Address

1501 West 36th Street
Chanute, KS
66720

Telephone

+16204322510

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