Students Take Second at Chess Team States
When 217 high school students gather in one room, the last thing one might expect
would be peace and quiet. At Roseburg high school on February 22nd and 23rd that's
exactly what occurred–at least the quiet part; for with the fierce battles
raging across more than a hundred chessboards, peace was in short supply.
The annual Oregon High School Chess Team Championships requires schools to compete
as five-player teams rather than matching individual players against each other.
Each individual game won is worth a point for the team; ties are worth a half point.
Each team plays matches against three, four or five schools depending on their division.
Playing in the combined 2A/3A division (high schools with student populations of
116-400), the 2A Delphian School managed ties in their matches against two larger
3A schools before going on to the title 2A match against favored Portland Christian.
After a very close contest, the Delphian team (consisting of captain Jonathan Huang,
Scott Superville, Evan Franklin, and Cody and Colin Malick) ended with a score of
2 to 3 and settled for 2A school second in the state.
The tournament is held by the Oregon High School Chess Team Association. Each year
they hold their annual coach's meeting to discuss and vote on issues facing the
league and to elect officers. At this year's meeting, Delphian School chess coach
James Horton was nominated for and elected to the position of Executive Director
of the Association. "It was quite an honor," Coach Horton said of his appointment.
"I hope I can do as much as my predecessors, Kate Taylor [of Clatskanie] and Mike
Wolfe [of Cottage Grove], who did an excellent job supporting and promoting league
activities and expansion."
This year Horton will act as assistant to Taylor, with his two-year term beginning
in 2009.
The Oregon High School Chess Team Association has been holding the high school team
state championship tournaments since 1964. For more information about the OHSCTA,
go to their web site at http://ohscta.tripod.com.