We're heading into the break with the season well underway. A word of thanks to the coaches who give up their afternoons, the parents who drive carloads of players across the county, and the players who show up and shake hands win or lose.
Two weeks of chess are in the books, and the league heads into the holiday break with some early storylines already taking shape. Manheim Township sits at the top through four rounds, with Hempfield and Lancaster Mennonite close behind. A few things have already surprised us. A few things haven't. We'll sort it all out in January.
But that's not what this post is about.
This one is for the coaches. Specifically the ones who spent their December afternoons loading students into cars at 3:30, navigating county traffic in the dark, and getting everyone home in one piece. The days are short this time of year, and chess matches don't get shorter. It doesn't go unnoticed.
Standings at the Break
| Place | School | W–L–D | Board Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Manheim Township | 3–1–0 | 12.5 |
| 2nd | Hempfield | 3–0–0 | 12 |
| 3rd | Lancaster Mennonite | 2–0–1 | 10.5 |
| 4th | Ephrata | 2–2–0 | 10.5 |
| 5th | Elizabethtown | 1–2–1 | 8 |
| 6th | Penn Manor | 0–3–0 | 3.5 |
| 7th | Lancaster Country Day | 0–3–0 | 3 |
To the players: enjoy the break. And if you find yourself with some time over the holidays — a quiet evening, nothing going on — it wouldn't hurt to sit down with a board. The second half of the season starts January 6th, and the standings are tight enough that every match matters.
Happy holidays from the Lancaster Scholastic Chess League. See you in the new year — hot cocoa and chess by the fireside until then.