The Coconut Creek High School chess team secured first place in the Chess4Life tournament hosted at J.P. Taravella High School on March 7, 2026. J.P. Taravella's team finished second in the competition, which featured nine teams. Chess4Life, the organizing group, emphasized the game's role in developing problem-solving skills among students.
On March 7, 2026, J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida, hosted the Chess4Life tournament, a competition aimed at promoting chess in schools. The event brought together nine high school teams, with Coconut Creek High School emerging as the winner. Their small but determined squad outperformed the field, earning top honors.
Mabensky Jean Mary, a member of the victorious Coconut Creek team, expressed excitement about the achievement. “I am excited, and it was a great feeling to win,” he said. Teammate Isaiah Louis-Jacques highlighted the effort required for success in chess. “It takes dedication and consistent effort to become a good chess player. I love chess, and I want to keep playing,” he added.
The host team from J.P. Taravella finished in second place. Players including Andres Carrillo, Gianfranco Carrillo, Denzel Cedeno, Jaden Richards, and Matias Perdomo represented the Trojans. Gianfranco Carrillo reflected on their preparation: “We have practiced and worked hard to learn the game of chess.”
Christopher Crossman, assistant principal at Taravella, praised the event's impact. “This was a positive event for our school, and we hope to continue hosting chess tournaments,” he said. Elliott Neff, executive director of Chess4Life, noted the educational value of the game. He stated that chess is beneficial for young people because it teaches problem-solving skills.
The tournament concluded positively, underscoring chess's role in student development through strategy and focus.
