NOFO Chess Tournament

Mattituck High School's Inaugural Chess Tournament A Success!

Mattituck Jr.-Sr. High School marked a new chapter in its extracurricular activities by hosting the inaugural interscholastic North Fork Chess Tournament. NOFO drew enthusiastic competitors from Mattituck Jr.-Sr. High School, Riverhead High School and Southold Jr.-Sr. High School, creating an atmosphere of friendly rivalry and strategic brilliance.

Under the guidance of chess adviser John Albers and with assistance from Chris Strohsnitter, the tournament provided opportunity for 24 students to engage in intense matches. Competitors from Mattituck Jr.-Sr. High School included Jay Chen, Marlowe Collamore, Jack Driscoll, James Felakos, Tobias Howard, Mason Marengo and Declan Morris. Riverhead's team, led by adviser David Spinella, demonstrated exceptional skill, securing the top three positions. Southold's participants, under the direction of adviser Ivan Santiago, also showed a strong competitive spirit, contributing to the tournament's overall success.

The tournament wasn't just for the competitors; students flocked to watch during their free periods, with some even joining in for casual games and adding to the lively ambiance. Mattituck's own James Felakos delivered a commendable performance, reaching the final four.

Despite the competitive nature of the tournament, the emphasis remained on sportsmanship and the shared love of chess. All participants and observers enjoyed the event, making it a memorable experience. The successful tournament has laid the foundation for future chess competitions, fostering intellectual growth and camaraderie among the participating schools.

The event was a great success, and Mattituck High School looks forward to future tournaments.

Photo captions:

Photo A: From left, Mattituck Jr.-Sr. High School chess players Declan Morris and James Felakos are pictured during their competition during the recent NOFO Chess Tournament.

Photo B: From left, Riverhead High School chess competitor Adolfo Lopez competed against Mattituck Jr.-Sr, High School player James Felakos for fourth place in the NOFO Chess Tournament.

Photo C: NOFO Chess Tournament winners (front, l-r) and Riverhead High School players Odin Matheis (first place), Adolfo Lopez (second place) and Grady Moore (third place) are pictured with chess competitors and advisors from Mattituck Jr.-Sr. High School, Riverhead High School and Southold Jr.-Sr. High School.