On March 14, 1998, the annual Upper Peninsula High School Championships were held at Gwinn High School. The day began as a snowy winter day making it tough traveling for everyone throughout the Upper Peninsula. Even with the adverse winter conditions, there was an excellent showing. With six different schools participating, there were a total of eight teams that played in the high school tournament. Including the alternates, a total of 37 students participated. They came from Dickinson County, West Iron, Crystal Falls, Gwinn, and Republic. The Dickinson County Chess Club was the only team that brought a junior high team. Therefore, after consulting all of the coaches, the junior high team played in the high school section.

The final standings were Dickinson County High School Team in first place with an undefeated score of 4 out of four rounds. Republic team 1 placed second with a score of 3, losing only to the Dickinson County High School Team. There was a three way tie for third place between Gwinn High School, Crystal Falls Team 2, and with an impressive finish for elementary and junior high players by losing only one team match, the Dickinson County Junior High Team. Trophies were awarded to the first and second place teams in the high school division and to the top team in the junior high division.

With an excellent diversity of players ranging from 12th grade to 3rd grade, individual grade trophies were also awarded. In 12th grade, Justin Ceterski, a senior from Iron Mountain High School, won the trophy for the fifth year in a row after winning a playoff match against Josh Thatcher, a senior from Gwinn High School, who also tied with Justin with a perfect score of four wins. In 11th grade, Rob Imel, a Junior from Republic High School, won the trophy with a score of 2 ½. Ben Imel, from Republic High School; Lee Richards, from Republic High School; and Tom Gorman, from Florence High School, all tied for the top 10th grade trophy, but Tom Gorman won the trophy after a playoff. Ken Ceterski, from Iron Mountain High School, won the top 9th grade trophy with a perfect score of 4 wins. Chi

High Team! Nathan Kidd, from Kingsford Middle School, won the top 7th grade trophy with an impressive score of 3 ½ in his first chess tournament ever! Merrill Dynes, from North Dickinson Elementary, scored an excellent 3 wins to win the top 5th grade trophy. Jimmy Moreau, from Norway Elementary School, won the top 4th grade trophy, and Jake Truitt, the youngest player there from Norway Elementary School, won the top 3rd grade trophy. Congratulations to all of the players that did well at the chess tournament and good luck to all of the teams in the future tournaments.