BATTLE HIGH SCHOOL — Linn R-2 Community Chess Club members competed at the Missouri Chess Association Scholastic Championships, returning six of seven players for the fourth consecutive year.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Coach/Sponsor Neal A. Johnson, who founded the club in 2013. “They worked very hard in practices and represented the club with a positive attitude.”

The annual event at Battle High School in Columbia features about 600 of the strongest chess players from around the state, with several divisions offering opportunities at several levels.

Final results and ratings have not been posted yet, but every player went into this year’s tournament with a gain over the 2025 event.

At the high school level, four players represented Linn in one of the toughest fields Johnson has seen.

Senior Carson Kliethermes (693 rating entering the tournament) won his final game to finish 2-2 and demonstrated the same grit that helped him earn the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment featured in this week’s U.D. “Carson plays a lot of chess online and is very active when he’s with the club,” said Johnson. “He’s patient and willing to help less experienced players develop. That kind of leadership makes my job easier.”

Junior Tommy Scheulen (911) went 0-4, facing each school’s top player in every round. “He’s a fierce competitor, and I appreciate his dedication to the club over the last several years,” said Johnson. “Tommy is a very competitive person, as seen in football and other activities he undertakes.”

Sophomore Travis Martin (322) fell in his final contest to go 1-3 on the day. “Travis has shown incremental improvements over the years, and he’s following his older brothers, Arlyn and Logan, in his approach to the game,” Johnson noted. “With continued application, I expect that to continue.”

Rounding out the HS team is freshman Elijah Kliethermes (742), who won his last game to finish 2-2. “Elijah is the technician of our group,” said Johnson. “He is involved in a lot of activities, from Scouting to Band, and yet he finds time to practice and play online, continually improving his rating. I think Elijah will be a handful in the coming years at state.”

At this level, players have 55 minutes to complete each game in a four-game series. In the younger levels, players compete in six games, each lasting 25 minutes.

Eighth-graders Logan Huckabee (423) and Colton Rachatellelle (UNR) had an unlikely finish to their day.

They each went into the final match at 2-3, hoping to break even on the day. However, as rare as it is, they were surprised to be paired against each other.

The tournament director confirmed the unusual matchup, noting that a variety of factors could influence the pairing.

“Logan and Colton could have taken a draw and finished with half a point each, but Logan didn’t want to go that route,” Johnson noted. “He shook his head and said, ‘I want to win,’ and that is what I love about these players. They have a drive to compete, regardless of who they see across the board.”

Huckabee won the game to break even, but Rachatellelle’s journey was also remarkable.

As a first-year state player, Rachatellelle was nervous but enthusiastic. He showed progress almost immediately after joining the club, and his willingness to listen and explore new ideas led to his being part of the state roster.

Despite months of practice, state chess can be daunting. Players are responsible for using their clock and time management, and Linn club members are required to record their games (notation) for review. “That’s a great tool to help players understand what went right, what didn’t, and how they can improve,” said Johnson. “It’s the same concept as watching game film in other sports, but for younger players, especially, it’s challenging.”

Rachatellelle opened with two losses, but he went through his games with Coach Johnson and saw where he could improve, and went 2-2 the rest of the day. “As I told him the day of the tournament, I’m proud of his tenacity, and I look for him to have a breakout year soon.”

Sixth-grader Kenni Kramer (389) went 3–3 and had an opportunity to potentially medal with a fourth win. “Kenni has been a strong player since she started with us four years ago,” said Johnson. “Her dad, Bryce, has worked with her a lot, and you can see how much it helps. Kenni went into the final match poised to medal, but lost a heartbreaker against a very strong player. Seeing her so emotional after that loss was tough, but it just proves how committed she is to winning. I’m very happy with her effort.”

Johnson was joined by Asst. Coach Arlyn Martin, a veteran state player who provided invaluable knowledge and experience to the younger players. “I couldn’t ask for a better young man to help guide these kids,” said Johnson. “He was among the earliest players to compete at state and steadily improved. I appreciate his willingness to help.”

Johnson also thanked the players’ parents, most of whom joined the team at Battle. “We have a very supportive group, not just the parents, but between players,” he added. “Parents being at the tournament added to the players’ confidence. Overall, we have some work to do, but the kids showed up and gave it their all. I can’t ask for much more as their coach and mentor.”

Moving forward, Johnson plans to find area tournaments for state players to further enhance their exposure to strong players.

The Linn R-2 Community Chess Club meets on Thursdays after school until mid-April, and currently serves about 35 kids. Players in grades 4-12 are welcome to attend. Enrollment forms are available in the elementary office.

Johnson expressed gratitude for the club’s community partners, Linn R-2, Mid America Bank, Legends Bank, State Tech, Judge Sonya Brandt, John Trenshaw, Bill Trenshaw, the Unterrified Democrat, Miriam Scheulen, and Three Rivers Electric. “We have been extremely fortunate to have such great individuals and organizations willing to support the club through partnerships,” said Johnson. “We couldn’t have kept this going without that kind of generosity. It is greatly appreciated.”

For more information, visit Linn R-2 Community Chess Club on Facebook.