SPICE Profiles: Vasif Durarbayli

Vasif Durarbayli has won three straight President’s Cups with Webster University’s chess team since joining in 2014. It might be hard to keep that streak going, according to Durarbayli. “Other teams know how strong we are,” Durarbayli said. “But on the other hand it puts us under pressure that we need to show that we…

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SPICE Profiles: Illia Nyzhnyk

The University of Texas at Dallas invited Illia Nyzhnyk to join their school and chess team. Nyzhnyk could not pass the school’s entrance exams so he began to look for other options. Susan Polgar then invited him to join Webster University’s team. Nyzhnyk, a Ukraine native, said he was amazed after he received an offer…

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SPICE Profiles: Ray Robson

Picking up chess to bond with his father, Grand Master Ray Robson brought experience to Webster as a gold medal-winning chess Olympian. A former chess World Cup participant and senior pursuing international studies, Robson is the leader of what Webster calls its “A-Team.” The veteran, at one point the youngest grandmaster in history, has been…

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SPICE Profiles: Peter Prohaszka

In order for SPICE (Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) team captain Ray Robson to potentially orchestrate a comeback to preserve the team’s chances at the President’s Cup, the team needed a successful performance from one of their other proven core players. During the President’s Cup, those pressures fell onto freshman Peter Prohaszka. Even after…

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Men’s baseball finds inspiration in seeing teammates make pros

Heading into the season, Webster University’s men’s baseball team prepared for a youth movement of sorts. Losing a pair of now professional players such as Gateway Grizzlies pitcher Kyle Uhrich and Josh Fleming, a fifth-round selection during the 2017 MLB Draft, could have sapped the team of valuable experience heading into the 2017-18 season. Instead,…

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Women’s hoops season comes to close at NCAA Tournament

After putting together their most successful season since 2004-05, Webster University’s women’s basketball team saw their season end on Friday, March 2. The Gorloks advanced to the NCAA Division III March Madness Tournament, but  fell short in a 86-45 defeat against Wartburg College. Even after claiming their first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Championship…

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Women’s tennis team seeks togetherness through fundraiser

Webster University’s women’s tennis team resumed their season, playing their first games since the ITA Central Regionals in September. The team has found ways to keep their schedule busy, though, as they hosted their fifth semi-annual Gorloks Doubles Championship on Sunday. The event is directed by senior Monica Behrle, who earned her ninth St. Louis…

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Women’s hoops advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament

In a week that consisted of All-Conference selections, a historic 20-win season, and their first SLIAC (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Championship since 2011, the Webster University women’s basketball team (20-6) earned another opportunity to add to their season. With Saturday night’s 63-61 victory, the Gorloks earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.…

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