Chess

February 2, 2007

Chess Team Wins First City Title for Lane in 2007

Last school year, Lane Tech finished 12^th in the IHSA state tournament. The 12^th place finish was the highest finish for any sport or activity for Lane Tech that year. It was a senior dominated team and of the 8 players that played in the state tournament for Lane, 6 of them we’re seniors and thus graduated. Only Kevin Velazquez(jr) and Patrick Maciejewski(so) returned this year. So, not too much was expected of the Lane team this year.

Furthermore, the Chicago Public League is especially strong this year. For example, the Public League boasts 8 of the top 23 Illinois Chess Coaches Association (ICCA) rated junior class players and 9 of the top 30 ICCA rated senior players. Also, the top 2 highest rated players in the state Son Alvarez of Foreman and Raymond Rosario of Von Steuben play for the Public League. Also Whitney Young (#2) is seeded ahead of Lane in the upcoming Feb. 9 state tournament in Peoria.  Whitney Young is led by junior Kayin Barclay, who recently was written up in a Sun Times article as the first ever African American player to be ranked number one in the state of Illinois. Whitney Young who finished 3^rd in the state last year has been on a roll this year and has already even beaten last years state champion Niles North.

        However, playing the underdog role  this year did not stop Lane Tech, as Lane Tech defeated Kelly 62 – 6, Simeon 60 – 8, Foreman, 60 – 8, Lincoln Park 44 – 24 and Walter Payton 39 – 29 to win the Chicago Public League title. Congratulations to Lane players  Kevin Velazquez (jr), Paaras Modi (fr) , Olena Jaworska (sr) , Patrick Maciejewski (so), Jan Wieczorek , Chris Morales (jr), Jae Lee(so) and Javier Martinez(so) for a terrific tournament.

Good luck in the state tournament Feb, 9-10 at the Peoria Convention Center.

Other schools may have better individual chess players such as Kayin Barclay (pictured above). Barclay (jr) is arguably the best high school chess player in the state of Illinois and finished 3rd place in Board 1 last year to help lead Whitney Young to a 3rd place state finish. However, despite the great individual talent from other schools,  Lane's team prevailed this year as the Chicago Public League City Champions. (www.wyoung.org photo)