For the second straight year and three of the last four, Bayside Academy has won the chess state championship. There are no class divisions by school size in chess, so this victory represents a first in the history of Bayside Academy, a 7A state championship.

For the first time this year, the Alabama Chess Federation sanctioned a junior varsity section at the state tournament, and Bayside came away with that title as well. JV team members are juniors Philip Dobbins, Ian Austill, Richard O'Neill and Will Smith.

Pictured, from left, are Trent Kannegieter, Steve Chen, Thomas Denton, Ford Taylor and Coach Eric Nager.