TCHS Chess Legends, 1991
Edwin Antone
Perhaps the World's greatest Hopi chess player!
His "grandmaster" move against Marcos turned the game and the match!
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� � � � 1991 has to rank as my most memorable ever coaching the chess team. We were absolutely in a "re-building" year since only one previous varsity member remained--Jarvis Billy, who had played 5th board. We also had one JV player, sophomore Ryan Begay to handle our 2nd board. To play 3rd board for us we had to rely on talented freshman Spencer Harvey, who had at least played Jr. High chess. Actually things looked pretty dismal at the first official practice because only these three players showed up. So we went into recruiting new members as each player was to bring his interested friends and up all over the school went "Chess is Fun" posters.
� � � � While the two new varsity players who joined were totally inexperienced, never before did two "rookies" play such a big role in our ultimate success! While Edwin Antone and Shaun Stevens were just learning the game, playing some pretty solid chess until a blunder or inexperience caused their games to fall apart, our team struggled to a 9 - 9 record up to the winter break.
� � � � For 10 years Tuba City had competed with the State's best, and now it looked like we were just a mediocre team that could perhaps fight its way through the northern Arizona teams to qualify for State but couldn't expect to do much after that. But that was all on the surface. Much more was happening--our team was enjoying the game (remember: "Chess is Fun") and our two varsity rookies were maturing rapidly and learning solid Tuba City fighting chess.
� � � � After the break, we had a different team--a team that began slaughtering all the northern contenders and a team that could compete with the State's best teams. In the first year that we ever hosted the State Team Championship we upset Arizona's #1 team Marcos di Niza in the second round 3-2, Nogales 3-2 in the third round, and Brophy Prep 3-2 in the championship round to win the most improbable state championship in TCHS history.
janesbit1@rocketmailcom
