Each year, Carl Sandburg continually competes for the conference title as well as the state title. For as far back as I remember, our team has been competitive under the successful coaching of Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Latortue. A committee of chess team members was picked to select the winners of these awards. Some were selected for this year, but the ones for the previous years were selected this year as well. The selection committee consisted of Chess Body President (Sean Monahan), alumni (Ryan Rabbe), and former player (Brian Bramlett). None of these awards have prizes or trophies, but some of them are serious and some are in jest. Serious awards are denoted by a *, while humorous awards are denoted by a ()
Chess Awards 1997 -- 1998
- () Coolest Freshman Award
- Sean Monahan
- He is quoted as saying "Default, the two sweetest words in the English language
- () Wrong Opening Award
- Jason Kozmic
- Despite Mr. Godfrey's best efforts, Jason played the Bird's Opening and did a crapulent job of it.
- () Most Annoying Award
- Brian Bramlett
- 'Nuff said.
- () Master Chef Award
- Venkat S.
- He cooked the coach's steaks.
- * 4-year Award
- Todd Freitag
- Seriously, what can you say. His name rhymes with god and that is what he is to Sandburg Chess players.
Chess Awards 1998 -- 1999
- () Coolest Freshman Award
- () Wrong Opening Award
- Matt Hollaway
- He played the Queens Gambit, and he didn't do half bad.
- () Most Annoying Award
- Nick Janis
- If you need me to explain why Nick won this award, you obviously haven't met him.
- () Moocher Award
- Joe Divenuto
- He is in the yearbook as being on the chess team. he is not on the chess team, and at no time will he ever be on the chess team.
- () Master Chef Award
- Venkat S
- He cooked steaks for the coaches again. A quote from Sean Monahan, "Mr. Latortue and Mr. Godfrey, do you want one bottle of Tabasco sauce on that or two?"
- () Only Attends State Award
- Mike Kim
- He only came to state
- () Dave Bukowski Award
- Matt Hollaway
- Maine South (Amy B.)
- () Nick Janis Award
- Nick Janis
- He lost to Hill Crest! There is nothing more to say.
- * Kozmic Award
- Matt Hollaway
- He had the most draws on the team. Opposite colored bishops, not enough mating material, you name it, he had it.
- * 4-year Award
- Dan Edeus and Venkat S
- They were both on the team for four years, although Venkat didn't actually play his freshman year.
- * Freitag State(Tm) Award
- Dan Edeus and Sean Monahan
- Dan was 5-1-1 and took 9th place on Board 1. Sean was 5-1-1 and took 6th place on board 4.
- * Undefeated(Conf) Award
- Dan Edeus and Sean Monahan
- Dan was 11-0-1 on Board 1 and Sean was 11-0 on Board 4.
- * Eating Contest Winner
- Andrew Cleland
- Have you ever seen this guy eat?
Chess Awards 1999-2000
- () Coolest Freshman Award
- () Wrong Opening Award
- Tara Peterson
- The Dutch?! The Dutch?! Argo players and Greg Burke use the Dutch
- () Quick Death Award
- Nick Janis
- He lost in less than 40 seconds in a blitz game to determine first place
- Honorable mention
- Tim Mueller
- for killing himself with infinite life.
- () Most Annoying Award
- Nick Janis
- He told Lewis and Sean that the team would get killed right before the team thwomped on the 2nd seed in state.
- () Lewis Talerico Award
- Matt Hollaway
- He missed pre-state for scholastic bowl. Scholastic Bowl?! Scholastic Bowl sucks! Wait, I'm in Scholastic Bowl. DOH!
- () Bottle Cap Award
- Lewis Talerico
- He is the reigning world champion. Eat that Kasparov, Karpov, Khalifman, Fisher, and Deeper Blue.
- () Moocher Award
- Pat Douglas
- He is in the March newspaper as being on the chess team. His photo is in the middle of the article. He quit in November. You really dropped the ball on this on Hemant.
- () Venkat Award
- Lewis Talerico
- He is the best ice shot we got.
- () Dave Bukowski Award
- Sean Monahan
- Niles North (Yelena Gorlin)
- () Narcolepsy Award
- Andrew Cleland
- How do you fall asleep at the board? I mean, did he eat two whole turkeys before hand and intake too much tripdafan?
- () Master Chef Award
- Ven Kat S
- Jason was supposed to take over, but he was too busy losing to Andrew in the eating contest. Vike rules again!!!
- () Only attends State Award
- Venkat S and Mike Kim
- They would at least attempt to come to a practice or club or match or something, anything.
- () Nick Janis Award
- Nick Janis
- He lost to Stagg!!!
- * Kozmic Award
- Jason Homiak
- Jason had 9 draws, his runners up are Sean and Matt with 6 draws a piece
- * 4-year Award
- Andrew Cleland
- We're gonna, um, like, miss, you, I guess.
- * Freitag State(Tm) Award
- Sean Monahan
- 6-1 on Board 1, 5th place in state! His only loss came to a Russian national. First among native born citizens!
- * Freitag State(Ind) Award
- Jason Homiak
- Number 1 Sophomore in State!! Yelena Gorlin was at the Olympiad beating 2400's
- * Undefeated(Conf) Award
- Lewis Talerico
- 13-0. Nice. You da man.
- * Eating Contest Winner
- Andrew Cleland
- Was there ever any doubt? No, but who will succeed him?
- * Streak Breaker Award
- Sean Monahan and Jason Homiak
- Sean beat Bolton who hadn't lost a game in over two years! Jason beat Anthony who won over 20 in a row!