We showed what we can do

Sweep in finals earns crown
Muir chess team wins invitational
By Emanuel Parker, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/25/2007 07:47:35 PM PST

PASADENA – They were taunted, laughed at, told they didn’t have a chance.

But when the last checkmate was called, the chess team from John Muir High School were declared victors at the recent High School Invitational Chess Tournament at Maranatha High School in Pasadena.

And the way Muir’s five-man team won the four-round event earlier this month was worthy of a Hollywood movie. In fifth place after three rounds, they needed all five players to win in the final round in order to capture the tournament. And that’s just what happened.
Muir was the only team in the tournament to sweep a round.

The last match pitted Muir’s Isaac Rawley against Maranatha’s Hannah Sakai. When Isaac won the 27-minute match, Muir had 12 points and second-place Marshall Fundamental had 11.5.

“I was so happy, I was jumping up and down,” said Isaac, 16, a junior.

“A lot of teams were saying we didn’t have a chance, laughing at us,” Keith Knetge said. “So we came and showed them what we can do.”

Last year, Muir came in second behind Temple City High School. Whittier, Pasadena High School, Washington Prep and Oakwood Christian High School also competed in the event.

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