Students Win in First-Ever Contest Against West Islip

Lindenhurst, NEW YORK (March 2024)—The Lindenhurst Middle School chess club prevailed in its first-ever contest against another school. The players went up against students at West Islip’s Beach Street Middle School on March 7, in a friendly competition against local rivals.

Lindenhurst Middle School’s chess club has a long lineage of about 20 years and currently comprises 35 students, many of whom have been playing chess their entire tenure at the middle school. The club emphasizes cultivating good sportsmanship and new friendships while learning mind-bending chess tactics.

The contest against Beach Street Middle School came about due to a shared history between the two schools. Andrew O’Farrell, Principal of West Islip Middle School, was an assistant principal at Lindenhurst Middle School many years ago, and he reached out to see if the two schools’ chess clubs could hold a friendly competition.

Lindenhurst Middle School’s chess club was led in the contest by students Maksyn Sisawang, Joshua Seminario, Vladyslaw Luchka, and Olivia Sowa. The club’s advisor is John Colagiacomo.

Date Added: 3/13/2024