After losing back-to-back games to Pocono Mountain West and East, Stroudsburg squared off for the win against Pleasant Valley and tied with a team that was 0-3. The win against Pleasant Valley kept hopes alive with only five games left in the season.

Then, the SHS Chess team tied with Lehighton on Thursday 01/09/25 with a score of 3.5 to 3.5.

Duncan Ruschman, ’26,  Jacob Pachter, ’27, and Mason Ulmer, ’27, checkmated for wins while Jacob Bajek, ’25, tied.

The team now stands at 4-3-1 as they look ahead to district standings.

After starting the year with high hopes at 3-1,  the team was hoping for the first and second spots in the District 11 standings, but recent losses to both Pocono Mountain teams humbled those hopes.

Since tying with Lehighton, their district chances are dwindling. Stroudsburg would have to win their next three matches while Pocono Mountain East and West would have to lose the rest.

Captain Duncan Ruschman had this to say when asked how he feels about the team’s recent performance, “Everyone on the team played well and played to the best of their abilities. Lehighton is a good team and we will be ready to face them again”.

Stroudsburg’s next matchup will be against the hometown rival East Stroudsburg South on January 14.