Sparta chess teams fare well at state tourney

Sparta - All six teams from the Sparta Chess Club entered in the N.J. Grade Level Chess Championships on Nov. 20 finished in the top three. More than 270 players from around the state competed in the tournament. The eighth-grade team of Danny O’Sullivan, Ryan Caruso and Zach Reinauer placed first, and Caruso took fourth place individual honors. The fifth-grade team also won their championship. Joseph Marcopolus placed fourth individually. His teammates were Patrick Mooney, Sasha Jouravlev, Luke Giugliano and Eryk Banatt. The ninth-grade team, participating in their first high-school event, placed second, behind powerhouse Columbia High. Team members were Michael Marcopolus, Bryce Bartling and Steven Matchett. The seventh graders were also runners up, with strong efforts from Scott VanderVeen, Colby Isenberg, Kyle Bay, Alec Ragnetti, Greg Allan, Justin Weed and Nick Bachmann. The Sparta second graders finished second. The team was made up of Austin Reinauer, John Mooney, and Ravi Malik. The sixth-grade team finished third, with good efforts from Robert Tessier and Frank Taylor. They were assisted by Brian Wilkie, Sean DiStefano, and Eric Jordan. The fourth grade was represented by Michael Mooney, and the third grade by Matthew Busanic. The Sparta Chess Club is in its fourth year and has 50 student members across a broad spectrum of abilities. Tom Murray, a financial planner with Ameriprise Financial, coaches the children.