Turbulence Before the Closing Stretch

After a great start to their season, the Aurora Central Chess Team has hit a bit of a rough patch. While members of the team continue playing at the highest level seen in years, competition has been stiff. A disappointing, but very close loss to Kaneland dropped the Chargers’ record to 2-2 a week before their greatest challenge of the season: IMSA. Placing 12th out of over 100 teams at last year’s state competition, Illinois Math and Science Academy was easily the toughest team the Chargers have had to face so far. Although ACC lost against IMSA at home, they avoided a sweep - much more than several other teams in the Far Side Suburban Conference can claim this year. Dusty Lawless (Sr., Board 2) nearly pulled off what would have been the greatest upset of the year in the game of his life. Unfortunately, time trouble and overwhelming pressure would be the deciding factor of that game.

On November 22, the Chargers participated in the annual Frosh-Soph tournament at Plainfield NorthHigh School. This provided invaluable experience for newcomers to the team, while offering a chance for upperclassmen to hone their skills in the open. Phil Karafiat (Sr., Board 3) placed 14th out of 47 in the Senior Open, and Catherine Pauls (Sr., Board 8) was named best female senior - a title that came with a particularly large trophy. The Chargers are now 2-4 in conference play and have a bye going into Christmas Break. They will face off against cross-town rivals Marmion Academy in January followed by Oswego with hopes of achieving a .500 record going into the conference championship tournament.