Chess Player's Comeback Win Earns State Trophy for Team: Whiz Kid

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout? Or did your local soccer team take the championship? They might be our next Patch Whiz Kid.

Each week, Frankfort Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.

Submit your nominations to joev@patch.com.

This Week's Whiz Kid

Whiz Kid's Name and Grade: Dan Rauch, seventh grade.

Whiz Kid's School: 

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: At the Illinois Elementary School Association's Chess State Tournament that ran from Feb. 18-19 in Bloomington, Dan won four games, lost two and played to a draw in another on the most competitive board. He placed seventh place in the tourney and is considered one of the top seventh-grade chess players in the state. 

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Along with the individual honors, Dan also helped Summit Hill's seventh-grade team take fourth place at the tournament. In one of the final games of the competition, Rauch defeated his East Peoria Central Junior High opponent in late-comeback fashion to capture the fourth-place team trophy.