The DePaul College Prep Chess Team has made history, qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in the school’s history. Led by coaches Nathan Holzmueller and Ulises Ortiz, the team has increased in numbers and stayed persistent throughout the season.
“This is my third year doing this at the school, and what I like about it is that every year it’s different,” Oritiz said, “Different personalities, different kids from different backgrounds, and just seeing how much they devote their time to getting better at a very difficult game.”
This season brought major changes to the team, with many new players stepping up to fill the gaps left by last year’s seniors. “This year, we had a brand new group of students,” Ortiz said, “We had a couple of seniors that came out of nowhere and said, ‘Yeah, I played chess,’ and then ended up being some of our stronger players.”
One of those seniors is Matthew DeLeon, who only joined the team this year but has quickly embraced the competitive atmosphere. “Our biggest achievement this year was probably tying for second place in conference,” DeLeon said, “Though we aren’t a top team like some of the teams we played, I was proud of our games because we each performed to the best of our ability.”
Dominic Scandariato, another senior, has been part of the team for multiple seasons and has witnessed its evolution. “This team has grown a lot in the past three years,” Scandariato said, “When I first joined, there were a couple of good players, but most people were just there to have a laugh with some friends. This year, every player on the team is competitive, and although there are still a lot of jokes and funny moments, overall it is much more serious.”
The ability of the team to compete at a high level has been a source of pride for both players and coaches. “This was the first year that I recall us finishing 7-3 in our overall conference record,” Ortiz said, “We’re always kind of in the middle of the ranks…so to finish in the top three or four in the conference was really cool.”
Even with their success, the team has faced its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest has been player availability. “Like any school activity, a lot of kids are busy,” Holzmueller said, “There’s mock trial, D&D, and a lot of sports. Just trying to help them juggle their chess commitments has probably been the biggest challenge.”
Senior Gavin Variano has found his first season on the team to be a rewarding experience. “One thing I like about the team is being around people I normally don’t see,” Variano said, “I get to be a part of a new group and feel more connected with DePaul as a school.”
For freshman Silas Judge, joining the DePaul Prep Chess Team was an easy decision. “I played chess for eight years at my previous school, so I reached out and found the chess club and team and wanted to join,” Judge said. He’s found the team’s competitive spirit to be a perfect fit. “Our team’s biggest achievement is making state, but we also have stayed consistent and beaten all teams worse and some better, which is nice to see.”
The team is now preparing for the state tournament, and Coach Holzmueller has been focusing their practice sessions on sharpening specific skills, especially openings. “Right now, I’ve been focusing on openings because with sectionals last week and state coming up, those earlier game plans are going to help them in the short term for these upcoming tournaments,” Holzmueller said. In practice, sessions usually begin with a focused warm-up, followed by either a serious competitive game or a more relaxed, fun session depending on the team’s recent performance. “Sometimes we just give them time to play for fun, especially after a big win.”
Variano is especially excited for the experience. “I’m very excited to go back down state again,” he said. “Now, I’m leading a team into state rather than tagging along, and it means a lot. Especially bringing the team to state for the first time in school history is special for me, the rest of the players, and the coaches.”
For Scandariato, this state run holds particular significance. “It means a lot because I wasn’t able to make it for soccer, but making it for chess is really cool,” he said.
At the state tournament, the team proved they could compete at a high level. The Rams tied for 65th place in the entire tournament and secured an impressive tie for 2nd place in the 2A division. The lineup featured Gavin Variano, Matthew DeLeon, Dominic Scandariato, Silas Judge, Malachy Mcdonagh, Reese Black, Adam Orrick, Liam Filan, Kevin Petrunyak and Sviatoslav Potoki. Reese Black stood out, winning six out of seven games and earning a medal as a top individual scorer.
While the tournament presented a new challenge, the team is embracing the moment. “I hope that our team remembers to have fun and enjoy this experience,” DeLeon said, “DePaul Prep Chess is just getting started. I expect that they’ll be seeing a lot of us at state for the years to come.”
As the season comes to a close, the team’s success has solidified its place in DePaul Prep history. With strong leadership from its fresh group of seniors and promising young players rising through the ranks, the chess team has built a foundation for future success. With this season’s accomplishments, the future of DePaul Prep Chess looks brighter than ever.
