The Marist Chess Team finished the season ranked #2 in the Chicago chess conference. The RedHawks also qualified for the state tournament as a team! We are so proud of their successful season. Here are season details from the coaches:
The Marist chess team entered the year with high hopes and didn’t disappoint. The 2022-2023
roster included Shakira Luster ’24 (Captain), Aiden Nelson ’24, William Schreck ’23 (Captain),
Trechelle Williams ’24, Imani Hill ’24, Max Kreith ’24, James McQuad ’23, Abel Sanchez ’24,
Sydney Brown ’24, and Dominick Heidorn ’23. During the season Captain Schreck went
undefeated during seasonal play, Captain Luster faced off with the best players in the
conference losing only once but then avenging that loss in the conference championship.
Juniors Trechelle Williams, Imani Hill, Max Kreith, Abel Sanchez, and Sydney Brown held down
boards 2, 3, 6, and 8 respectively during the season. Seniors Jimmy McQuad and
Dominick Heidorn came a bit later in the season and held their own at boards 7 and 8 as well.
The chess team finished 2nd overall in the Chicago Chess Conference. Later traveling to
sectionals at Hinsdale High then qualifying for state competition. The team was excited and
anxious after a 2 ½ hour trip to Peoria and a restless night’s sleep. The team would prepare for
some hard fought battles with Illinois’s top 129 teams and these matches didn’t
disappoint. Marist would face a shocking upset during round 1 with South Elgin squeaking by to
procure the win with the slimmest of margins. In perhaps the most memorable game during
state, Jimmy McQuaid would beat his opponent with 2 seconds on his clock in spectacular
fashion to help Marist bounce back in round 2 by defeating Metamora in another closely fought
battle. During round 3, Marist would go on to lose again to Taft High School. After a pep talk and some additional coaching from coaches Sedrick, Prude, and Eric Luster, Marist would recover dramatically in rounds 4, 5, and 6, by winning convincingly over Kelly, Plainfield East, and Morton respectively. In round 7 Marist would have to face off with one of Illinois’ chess Juggernauts Naperville North. Although Naperville North would go on to defeat an exhausted Marist High School handily, Marist chess team held their own this season by defying many expectations. Marist’s final records for the 2022-2023 chess season would be #2 ranked in the Chicago chess conference, #2 ranked Catholic school team in the state, # 7 ranked Chicago team in the state, and # 57 overall out of 129 eligible teams! Special shout out to our seniors who will soon be headed to bigger and better things. Congratulations, RedHawks!!! Below are some photos from the state competition:
Last year, Shakira, Trechelle, and Imani were featured in a McDonald’s commercial that was filmed right here at Marist. Click here to read about that awesome opportunity.
