Chess replaces tennis in Tocco Challenge
Brandon Muri
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
The sixth annual Tocco Challenge, hosted by the Panhellenic and Inter-Fraternity councils, will feature a major alteration - chess will supplant tennis as the deciding factor of the contest.
In the past, tennis has been the climatic capstone of the Tocco Challenge, an intense athletic duel between student contenders and Don Tocco.
Due to a dislocated disk, Tocco is unable to play tennis, and has chosen the game of wits as a replacement.
"It's mental gymnastics, mental skill," Tocco said, "It's a good change of pace for the competition."
First time competitor and junior Claire Aubrey, who will represent Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in the competition, said she welcomes the switch.
"I would probably prefer chess over tennis anyway - I'm not very good at tennis," she said, laughing.
Last year's champion and returning competitor senior Mark Nicolet also welcomes the change.
"[Chess] embodies the spirit of the liberal arts education," he said lightly.
Nicolet said he will prepare himself for the chess portion by challenging his smartest friends to daily chess sessions.
In another break with the six year tradition, the final event will not carry as much weight in the competition.
"If I get hammered in basketball and football, I don't want a game of chess to be the deciding factor," Tocco said.
Aside from the final event, the rest of the challenge will remain unchanged, consisting of events in baseball, football and basketball.
Tocco's current record in the competition is 3-2.
And although he lost last year to Nicolet, Tocco, 60, remains confident in his abilities.
"I've never been behind by more than 10 or 12 points," he said, "I plan on giving them some stiff competition," he said. "And I expect to get some stiff competition in return," he said.
Tocco guarantees $25,000 to the house of the winning contender, should a student win, and $15,000 if Tocco wins.
In addition to the possible $25,000 donation, Tocco also said an array of businessmen are betting against him.
"I believe the pool is up to $7,500," he said, "They don't have much confidence in my abilities, he said, laughing.
In the past, tennis has been the climatic capstone of the Tocco Challenge, an intense athletic duel between student contenders and Don Tocco.
Due to a dislocated disk, Tocco is unable to play tennis, and has chosen the game of wits as a replacement.
"It's mental gymnastics, mental skill," Tocco said, "It's a good change of pace for the competition."
First time competitor and junior Claire Aubrey, who will represent Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in the competition, said she welcomes the switch.
"I would probably prefer chess over tennis anyway - I'm not very good at tennis," she said, laughing.
Last year's champion and returning competitor senior Mark Nicolet also welcomes the change.
"[Chess] embodies the spirit of the liberal arts education," he said lightly.
Nicolet said he will prepare himself for the chess portion by challenging his smartest friends to daily chess sessions.
In another break with the six year tradition, the final event will not carry as much weight in the competition.
"If I get hammered in basketball and football, I don't want a game of chess to be the deciding factor," Tocco said.
Aside from the final event, the rest of the challenge will remain unchanged, consisting of events in baseball, football and basketball.
Tocco's current record in the competition is 3-2.
And although he lost last year to Nicolet, Tocco, 60, remains confident in his abilities.
"I've never been behind by more than 10 or 12 points," he said, "I plan on giving them some stiff competition," he said. "And I expect to get some stiff competition in return," he said.
Tocco guarantees $25,000 to the house of the winning contender, should a student win, and $15,000 if Tocco wins.
In addition to the possible $25,000 donation, Tocco also said an array of businessmen are betting against him.
"I believe the pool is up to $7,500," he said, "They don't have much confidence in my abilities, he said, laughing.
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