The Evanston Township High School Chess Team won the North Suburban Chess League South Division earlier this month, putting the team at the top for their upcoming conference tournament in three weeks.
The big win came on Dec. 16, as the team rounded out fall competition with a 17-6 record. Along with their top seed in the North Shore Suburban Conference tournament Jan. 21, the team will be top competitors in the Illinois High School Association Chess State Series sectionals a week later. State competitions end with the state final tournament on Feb. 10 and 11.
Team sponsor Keith Holzmueller said that top seeding doesn’t give the team much of an advantage beyond bragging rights. Top-seeded teams in chess end up playing other high-ranking teams, which is different than other Illinois High School Association activities that match up lower-seeded teams with higher-seeded teams as a benefit for the higher-ranking teams.
“I think we’re one of a group of teams that are in the top 10 that have a chance (at winning states),” Holzmueller said. “The conference tournament and the sectional will help determine that. We’re looking good to be one of the top seeds.”
Holzmueller played chess in high school while growing up in Maryland and got involved with ETHS’ team back when his son played, becoming the team’s head sponsor six years ago when the previous coach, Ken Lewandowski, retired.
“It’s a pretty organized and competitive activity in the state of Illinois,” Holzmueller said. “Ken Lewandowski is a big part of that and helped with organizing high school chess, and it grew to the point it got the attention of IHSA.”
His son now lives and teaches in Kentucky where he continues to play and coach students on the school’s team.
Holzmueller said the ETHS team is more experienced than previous years and has a good chance at competing in the top level at nationals for the first time in about a decade. Last year, the team won third at the state tournament.
“We’re better this year than last year, but a couple of the other teams are also better,” he said. “It will be a very interesting competition.”
The team began in 1969, making it one of the state’s oldest high school teams, and has 20 members that compete in tournaments with eight players per team. Not all members of the club compete, according to Holzmueller, and instead join for the social aspect and chance to practice the game with their peers.
“We welcome both people who want to play for fun and people who want to compete or people who want to do both,” he said. “Either way it’s good having activities that you enjoy in high school and getting to meet other people that have interest.”
Practices begin in September with competitions taking place from October through February. Nationals are typically held from late March to early April.
Competitions are structured a little differently than other sports as teams continue playing even after a loss with winners advancing to play other winners. According to Holzmueller, each team ends up playing seven matches at the state tournament in Peoria.
Once state competitions are completed in February, the team has to look forward to nationals. ETHS has previously competed in various levels at nationals, bringing two teams to last season’s national tournament and ranking second in the second division and second in the third division. This season the team is expected to compete at the highest level, posing a new challenge for players.
“I don’t think we’ll finish second, but I think we can finish well there,” Holzmueller said. “We haven’t formally entered yet but we’re leaning that way.”
