Message from the coach:

What a year!  I am very proud of the West chess team this year!!!  You played outstanding chess, you learned a lot and used it on the field of battle, emerging victorious.  Stand proud knowing you proved to be the the best local team in Rockford (5 back to back 1st place wins at scholastics), the Best area team in the TRIcounty (1st Place , North Boone Invitational),   The best area team this side of Chicago (1st place Tim Just Rule Book Open, Crystal Lake)  In the top 5 Chicago Area (5th place at the Latin School tournament, Navy Pier, Chicago) Top 10 teams in the whole State ( 9th place Illinois State Scholastic Championships, Navy Pier, Chicago) and one of top 25 best chess teams in the country! ( 23rd place team K-12 NATIONAL Scholastic Championships, Milwaukee Wi) 

I am very proud to say I am your coach, not because of all the trophies you have won, but the way you carried yourselves this year and the way you graciously handled winning. I was happiest when I seen you congratulate other chess players on their wins or when you sought out a tournament director to shake his hand and thank him for a good tournament.  I have been told by many coaches and TD's that this is probably the BEST Middle School team EVER to come out of Rockford!  This puts you into very elite company going back many years.

At the beginning of the year I told you I wanted to see one thing......

I wanted to see other teams and coaches hate the fact that we were signed up for a tournament, not because you are unruly or loud and disruptive but because they knew it would be near impossible for them to win when we are there.

Well this actually happen this year when I was approached by a coach you stated " your kids are great but I wish you guys would have picked a different tournament!"  That was a proud moment for me!

I really hate to see Collin and Troy move on to High School....( I did ask their teachers to hold them back another year! but no dice)  This does mean that Robert and Dylan can step up and try to fill their shoes. We can have one more tournament together as a full team at the July 22 Scholastic (St. Mark Lutheran Church) Troy and Collin can compete one more time as 8th graders.  I would like to have a party for you the team to celebrate our great year.  It would be right after the tournament (around 3 pm ) and would include dinner (pizza or cookout burgers & hotdogs) details will be forthcoming.

Thank you again for a wonderful year and I will see you all at the Spring sports banquet

Sincerely your Coach

Mr.. Brown