Whitney Young Chess Team Wins Fourth State Title In Six Years
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There was a pep rally at one of the best public schools in Chicago this morning and it featured a team that, in most places, might not usually get top billing at a pep rally: the chess team.
Cheerleaders formed a gate in the Whitney Young High School gym, and then the chess team ran through the middle of a paper banner that read "Checkmate."
"We like to embrace all of our accomplishments here, and all of the students' accomplishments, and chess is a very big deal. We've won the state championship four out of six years," Whitney Young Principal Dr. Joyce Kenner said.
"It's awesome, and it's just a really beautiful feeling winning a state championship," chess team senior Caelan Burke-Kaiser said.
Four of Whitney Young's starting eight players are freshmen, including the team's best player, Matthew Stevens.
"I'm the best, and manage the most points. If I lose, it's really devastating. If I win, it's a really big advantage for us," he said.
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The pep rally was like any other. The school's band played; and the dance, pom, and cheerleading squads performed. A group of teachers even did a little dance routine, much to the amusement of the students.
Team captain Christopher Rupprecht said he loves winning the state title, and all the perks that go with it, like Thursday's pep rally, but for him, the winning the game is the thing.
"I like the idea of just my mind against my opponent's mind; just one on one, whoever comes out on top comes out on top. It's just, I guess, sheer brain power," he said.
Kenner said the Whitney Young chess dynasty is something for the city and state to be proud of.
Coach Paul Kash said the team is looking forward to more state titles in the years to come.
"We have on our top eight four freshmen and four seniors, so the four seniors are going out winners. They've won three out of four years, and the four freshmen are looking forward to a four-year sweep," he said.
The chess team, which won the speed chess nationals in Florida, will head to Atlanta next month to take part in the high school chess national championship tournament.
