Williamsburg middle school wins national high school chess championship
The youngsters of IS 318 take the crown in Minneapolis
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 4:00 AM
Take a bow, Justus Williams, James Black, Isaac Barayev and Matthew Kluska, stalwarts of the Intermediate School 318 Eugenio Maria de Hostos chess team out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Though only in middle school, the team won the National High School Chess Championship.
Or, to put it in Williamsburg terms: They beat the big kids. Not just any big kids; the best of America’s chess-playing big kids. No middle school had won since the national competition started in 1969.
It was with great faith in you, the reader, that the Daily News reported in December on the difficulties the champs were having in footing the bill for a trip to Minneapolis. Then, it was our pleasure to report the Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Plant stepped up with a $25,000 donation.
Unfortunately, we were not able to do a full-dress presentation on the team’s victory — pictures, quotes, attaboys a plenty — because
Principal Eric Windley barred all communication with this newspaper. He was in a snit having to do with an unrelated story or two about his faculty’s poor teacher ratings and a misleading letter he sent to parents about same.
Enough said about the foolishness of an adult. Let nothing more deprive these accomplished kids of all the adulation they so richly deserve. Justus, James, Isaac and Matthew, congratulations. You were spectacular.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com
Nice job.