Check mate! Stroudsburg has a new chess coach in town.

Math teacher Mr. Connor Chalfant has taken over for the 2020-2021 season. He is replacing English teacher Ms. Danielle Ramstine, who coached the team for three years.

“I knew they would be in excellent hands because Mr. Chalfant is working on becoming a Grandmaster (GM) in chess,” said Ramstine.

That is the highest distinction a person can achieve.  It is awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Chalfant has had a lot of experience with the game of chess. An SHS graduate, he was a member of the SHS chess team, and he went on to compete for Boston University.

¨I’ve known about the game since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I was a sophomore in high school that I started to take the game more seriously,¨ said Chalfant.

This upcoming chess season is questionable, with school closing down for some time and COVID reaching higher numbers. Even so, the team is continuing to prepare for matches.

“I hope to win our matches against other schools — particularly Pocono Mountain East who has been undefeated for many years,” said Chalfant. ¨Even though it may not seem this way, chess is a simple game. You can learn how to move the pieces and play a full game in under an hour or two.¨

For more information on this year’s chess team go to the following:

https://mountieathletics.org/main/teamschedule/id/3782304/seasonId/4545397

Contact Mr. Connor Chalfant for more information:

Mr. Connor Chalfant
High School Mathematics Teacher 10-12
Stroudsburg High School
Rm A206
[email protected]