Nicollet wins fourth state chess championship

The Nicollet Middle School chess team outscored Minnetonka East Middle School by 2.5 points to win its fourth state championship March 7-8 at the Minnesota State Chess Association’s 61st Annual State Scholastic Chess Tournament at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Twenty-six Nicollet Middle School students participated at state. Franklin Briceno led the way with a second-place finish. Also placing in the top 10 were Khalid Osman (4th in U1000), Rafa Avila (5th in U700), Charlie Doll (8th) and Gracin Mathews (T-9th). 

Briceno defeated his nationally-ranked Minnetonka East opponent with only seconds to spare to help clinch Nicollet’s first state championship since 2023. Briceno’s second place finish is the highest ever by a Nicollet student. 

“It was an exciting, emotional weekend where all 26 kids poured their hearts out to take the title we had set out to win when we first met in September,” coach Brian Ribnick said. “The team is now hoping to represent Minnesota in May at the National Middle School competition in Round Rock, Texas. I can't be more proud of these young competitors.”

A total of 383 students competed, the most at the event in 26 years.