MISSION, Texas (Feb. 26, 2026) — The Mission Junior High School chess team captured first place in the Middle School U900 division at the 2026 TCA Region 10 Secondary Chess Championships held Feb. 21-22 at Elias Longoria Middle School in Edinburg.
Competing against 21 middle schools from McAllen, Sharyland, Edinburg and PSJA school districts, along with IDEA and South Texas Preparatory schools, the Patriots faced a field of 231 middle school students ranging from unrated competitors to players rated as high as 1600.
Despite entering the tournament with their highest-rated player at 950, the team demonstrated patience, discipline and strategic focus throughout each round. Mission Junior High finished with a total of 20 points to secure the first-place trophy in the U900 (under 900) section.
The team’s top four scorers — Wyatt Vargas, Nomar Menchaca, Corey Ramirez and Raphael Salmeron — each earned five points to lead the championship effort. Additional team members include Arya Ramirez, Mateo Saenz, Ruben Yzaguirre, Mateo Garcia and Zander Cantu.
Built on a Foundation at Mims Elementary
The success at the junior high level reflects years of preparation that began at Mims Elementary under the leadership of Coach Daniella Alaniz, a fifth-grade math teacher who launched the competitive chess initiative three years ago.
Alaniz began by working with second- through fifth-grade students and gradually expanded the program to include younger grades. During the 2023-2024 school year, the elementary team advanced to the national stage, competing in Columbus, Ohio, where the team placed 12th in its section.
Last year, the Mims program expanded to 26 students, including kindergarten participants. At the Elementary Regionals competition, the K-1 team earned second place, narrowly missing first by one point, while the Primary Championship team earned third place. The team also competed at Super Nationals, where 1st grader, Rodrigo Salinas, earned an individual award.
As those students advanced to junior high, interest in continuing competitive chess grew. With more former Mims students now at Mission Junior High, Alaniz continued supporting the program to ensure students could build on the foundation they had developed in elementary school.
“I think we did so well because we’ve been practicing for years, starting when we were at Mims Elementary,” said Wyatt Vargas, a seventh grader at Mission Junior High. “After this successful meet, my rating is 1,000, which indicates a high skill level.”
Leadership and Dedication Drive Success
Alaniz said the team’s championship performance reflects both academic discipline and character.
“I am ecstatic for the team as they are highly competitive and work diligently to do their best,” Alaniz said. “All of the team members are not only chess players, but they are all-around model students who are respectful and show so much pride as Patriots for Mission Junior High. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and know they will go and represent well.”
Season Continues With State and National Competitions
The 2026 chess season is far from over. The Mims Mustangs are preparing to compete at the 2026 TCA Region 10 Elementary Championships before advancing to the 2026 Texas Scholastic Super State Championship Tournament in Austin on March 7-8.
The Mission Junior High team will conclude its season at the 2026 National Middle School K-8 Championship Tournament in Round Rock on May 15-17.
With 24 students currently competing at Mims Elementary and nine junior high students representing Mission Junior High, interest in competitive chess continues to grow, reflecting a strong and expanding culture of strategic thinking, perseverance and academic excellence across the district.
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