USC Chess Club Sports Teams - Where Strategy Meets Sport

Hall of Fame

Legends who built the foundation of our dynasty

Inaugural Class of 2024

These exceptional athletes have left an indelible mark on USC Chess Club Sports history. Their dedication, skill, and leadership have set the standard for excellence and inspired future generations of players.

Mikhael Hilaly — The Architect

Quarterback

Team Captain Founder G.O.A.T

The mastermind behind it all. Mikhael didn't just captain the team — he built it from the ground up. With a cannon for an arm and a playbook in his head, he commands the field like a general. Flashy, fired-up, and always three steps ahead, Mikhael is the engine, the energy, and the edge.

Jonathan Sottile — The Flash

Wide Receiver, Safety

Speed Demon Hops Best Hands

Try to cover him — you'll only catch a glimpse. Jonathan's speed is different, but it's the vertical and the hands that make him a cheat code. The team's most consistent weapon and ultimate safety net, he's the guy you call when you need something done right. "F**k it, Jonathan's down there somewhere" -Mikhael

Stone Wu — The Hitman

Wide Receiver, Safety

Defensive Leader Hit Stick Demon Unnecessarily Rough

Stone is not out there just to play defense. He's there to intimidate you. A fearless safety and physical WR, he's built like a twig but hits like a truck. He racks up unnecessary roughness calls like badges of honor, and his presence alone makes opponents second-guess every route. High IQ. Zero fear. "Always going for the ball"

Ella Thomason — The Matchup Nightmare

Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Matchup Nightmare RedZone Threat

There's no guarding Ella — just damage control. Crisp routes, elite hands, and an instinct for finding the end zone, she's the kind of player who forces defenses to change their game plan. If she's on the field, she's scoring. Simple as that.

Dhanika Perez — The Closer

Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Clutch Performer Conversion Master

Cold under pressure and deadly from the center spot, Dhanika's made a habit of delivering when the lights are brightest. She always delivers on 2-point conversions. Multiple TDs in the playoffs. When the margin's tight, give her the rock.

Jarod Mendoza — The Fortress

Rusher

Enforcer Stone Wall

Built different. Jarod brings size, physicality, and lockdown energy wherever he lines up. Whether he's rushing the QB, locking down WRs, or stuffing the run, he shows up with a bruiser's mentality and linebacker instincts. If you come his way, you're going down.

Esther Kim — The Sparkplug

Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Clutch Performer Fear Factor

Esther brings more than just energy — she shifts momentum. Built with power and packed with heart, she's the kind of player who delivers the game-changing play right when it's needed most. Stronger than anyone expects. Louder than the scoreboard. Always ready.

Cristian Mendez — Whip Route Master

Wide Receiver

Great Hands Whip Route God

Cristian doesn't just run routes — he crafts them. Especially deadly in the short and mid-range game, his whip route is straight art. With some of the most reliable hands on the squad, he's always open in the flat. A real problem in the RedZone. Clutch, calculated, and cold-blooded.

Chris Renfro — The Technician

Linebacker, Tight End

RedZone Nightmare Route Technician

Smooth, sharp, and surgical in the red zone. Chris brings a level of energy and consistency to the team. He's the guy who opponents are scared to match up with. He always runs it clean, and shows up with the attitude that brings the team together. Always locked in. Gronk cannot be stopped.

Class of 2025

These exceptional athletes have continued the legacy of excellence, bringing new energy, skill, and dedication to USC Chess Club Sports. Their impact on the field and in the locker room has elevated the program to new heights.

#10

Aishwarya — The Mismatch

Wide Receiver

God Speed Crisp Routes

Elite speed and surgically precise routes put defenders in hell. Aishwarya consistently beat defenders from the jump, creating separation before they could react. She became one of the go-to targets on crucial 4th downs, delivering when the pressure was highest.

#11

Charvi — The Clamp Queen

Safety

Lockdown Zone Demon

Charvi anchored the defense with authority and total control. A lockdown safety with elite zone instincts, she erased space and closed windows before offenses knew they were open. Her discipline and awareness made her the backbone of the coverage unit. When Charvi was on the field, the back end was sealed.

#12

Gar — The Glue Guy

Shooter

Quiet Killer Easy Money Sniper

Quiet impact, maximum results. Gar brought spacing, composure, and precision to the court, consistently delivering timely buckets without needing the spotlight. With a sniper mentality and steady presence, he knocked down shots when defenses relaxed—and punished them for it. The connective force that kept the offense flowing.

#13

Guillermo — The People's Champ

Shooter

Super Dependable Limitless Range

A shooter teammates trusted and defenders couldn't ignore. Super dependable and unfazed by pressure, Guillermo consistently delivered from deep with smart movement and awareness. His limitless range stretched defenses and created opportunities far beyond the box score. The People's Champ showed up every game with confidence and consistency that lifted the entire unit.

#14

Michael — The Hype Man

Passing Center

Tone Setter Jokic-esque

The emotional and tactical hub of the basketball team. A Jokic-esque passing center, Michael saw the floor two steps ahead, turning reads into assists and possessions into momentum. He didn't just move the ball—he controlled the game's rhythm, set the tone physically, and elevated everyone around him.

#15

Anna — The Silent Assassin

Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Tough as Nails Sticky Hands

Quiet temperament, loud game. Anna's toughness, composure, and technical soundness made her thrive in high-pressure moments on both sides of the ball. Her physical style intimidated defenders, shrugging them off like they weren't even there. Consistent, fearless, and one of the QB's favorite weapons.

#16

Nick — The Playmaker

Cornerback

Lockdown Ball Hawk

Big Pick Nick built his reputation on timing, instincts, and takeaways. A true lockdown corner with elite ball-hawking ability, he turned mistakes into momentum-shifting plays. Quarterbacks learned quickly that testing his side of the field came at a cost. Big Pick Nick was a constant threat to flip the game.

#17

Audrey — The Lightning

Running Back, Cornerback

Flash YAC Demon

Audrey caused problems on both sides of the ball. With explosive speed and elite open-field instincts, she turned check downs and runs into explosive plays. Consistently amazing at pulling flags and holding opponents to short gains. On both offense and defense, Lightning brought energy and big-play potential that could strike at any moment. Special thanks to Audrey for creating the amazing mini-movie that captured our team's spirit.

Class of 2026

The final HOF class is marked by its youth and positivity. These players brought a lot of energy and freshness to the team in addition to a high level of skill. The future of the Chess Club is in good hands.

#18

Analisa — The Menace

Center

Great Hands Heart of Team Hooper

She does not discriminate. She'll scream at you whether you're on her team or not. Always brings the energy on the sideline, so you know when she's at the game. Intimidates opponents with her huge smile and intensity. She sets bone-crushing screens in basketball and has amazing hands and great routes from the center spot in football. A huge jokester with a smile that lights up the room.

#19

Max — The Mad Scientist

Wide Reciever, Cornerback

Deep Threat Route Technician

Taking care of business on both sides of the ball is regular for Max. Blanketing the opposing team's recievers on defense and making timely catches on offense is what he does. One of the QB's favorite targets, he creates separation on short and deep routes. He doesn't say a lot—he just takes care of business.

#20

Minh — The Blacklisted Bucket Getter

Wide Reciever, Linebacker

No Drops Bucket 99 Tackle

Minh was too good for the league to handle. He is able to keep people in front of him and get after the QB. The best tackler in the league, making timely stops. He also doubles as a reciever. He has incredible hands and is great at getting open in the short to mid-field. Just watch your donuts when he's around.

#21

Riley — No Fly Zone

Safety

Lockdown Safety High Speed

The kind of player every team needs: fast, fearless, and always smiling. Whether she's locking down receivers or flying across the field to make a play, her speed and defensive instincts make her a difference-maker every game. No matter the moment, Riley brings energy, confidence, and a smile that never leaves her face.

#22

Tai — Randy Moss

Wide Reciever, Safety

X-Factor Double Me 99 Jump Moss

This guy is a monster. Plain and simple. All he does is score. He can burn you short or jump over you down the field. When in doubt, the QB knows to just throw it up to this guy and let him go get it. He leaves people with their jaws on the floor the way he elevates over multiple people. He plays both ways and Mosses people on both sides of the ball. Opposing QBs should know better than to throw it anywhere near this guy.

Legacy of Excellence

These Hall of Fame inductees represent the highest standards of athletic achievement, leadership, and sportsmanship. Their contributions have built the foundation for future success and inspired countless teammates to reach their potential.

"Great players make great teams, but great people make great programs. These inductees are both."

— Mikhael Hilaly, Team Captain

CHAMPIONS

Celebrating our victories and championship moments

Fall 2025 Co-Rec Flag Football Champions

Season Record: 4-1

Finals MVP: Dhanika Perez

Killer Queen

Offense Captain

Mikhael Hilaly

Knightfall

Defense Captains

Chris Renfro & Stone Wu

Fall 2025 Co-Rec Flag Football Champions

Coming off a season that ended in heartbreak after scandalous officiating robbed us in the finals the previous semester, Chess Club returned hungry and determined. The core of the roster stayed intact, with several key additions joining a team eager for redemption. From the opening week, it was clear this group had unfinished business. A breakout performance from Anna in her debut immediately put the league on notice as Chess Club dominated out of the gate.

The following week brought the team's first real test. Trailing by 18 points in the fourth quarter, Chess Club looked all but finished. That's when Cristian took over on both sides of the ball, catching TDs and INTs to secure a dramatic one-point victory. The resilience shown in that game defined the team's identity for the rest of the season.

In the final week of the regular season, Chess Club faced their bitter rival, Snow Club. The matchup was filled with tension and aggression. There was a lot of talking and even a fight. Difficult weather conditions also played a major role. In a rare off night, Mikhael struggled to get a grip on the ball in the rain, and Chess Club suffered its first loss of the season. Despite the setback, the team knew that they were still capable of achieving their goal.

Entering the playoffs as the 4 seed, Chess Club drew a matchup against the top-seeded CASA. In another game marked by questionable officiating—where CASA appeared to dictate the rules—Chess Club stayed composed. A late score put them up by five with just 12 seconds remaining. In a controversial decision, the referees added 40 seconds to the clock, giving CASA one final chance. Chess Club's defense rose to the moment, holding firm and securing a hard-fought victory.

By the time the finals arrived, everything came together. In a rematch against the Challengers, Chess Club was firing on all cylinders. Chris, Stone, and Jonathan anchored a dominant defensive effort that completely shut down the opposing offense. On the other side of the ball, QB1 Mikhael repeatedly found his top targets, Ella and Dhanika, in the end zone. The duo combined for five touchdowns, with Mikhael adding a rushing score of his own for six total touchdowns on the day.

After a season defined by resilience, unity, and redemption, Chess Club had finally done it. They were intramural champions!

Game Scores

vs. KWL Airraid W 39-12
vs. Challengers W 43-42
vs. Snow Club L 40-50
Playoffs:
Round 1: vs. CASA W 26-21
Finals: vs. Challengers W 54-27

Spring 2026 Co-Rec Flag Football Champions

Season Record: 3-1

Finals MVP: Ella Thomason

The Army

Offense Captain

Mikhael Hilaly

The Great Wall

Defense Captain

Stone Wu

Spring 2026 Co-Rec Flag Football Champions

The Chess Club was riding high off its first championship. They had finally broken through, and the fans were wondering if this team would still play with the same edge. With new additions to the team, like Analisa, Minh, Tai, Max, and Riley, the Chess Club was primed to defend its title.

The season began with a rematch of the semifinals from the previous season against CASA. It had been reported that CASA had been preparing for their rematch with the Chess Club and that they were hungry for revenge. CASA scored first, but the Chess Club was ready.

Mikhael walked over to WR1 Thomason and asked, “Are you faster than this girl?” She responded with a resounding yes. “Okay then, run the go route and I’ll find you,” he said. Ella burned her defender, and Mikhael put the ball out in front of her. The game was tied.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. CASA was able to run all over the defense, and new rule changes caused the Chess Club offense to slow down a bit. CASA had also signed free-agent Brady, who utilized his blazing speed and leaping ability to torch the defense. Despite a disastrous day, some deep bombs to Max were able to get the Chess Club within 16 by the end of the game.

The next week, Chess Club got a forfeit win against a new team. Going into the final week of the regular season, Chess Club needed to win to make the playoffs. Chess Club fell into a hole early, trailing 0–14. They kept fighting and proceeded to rattle off 42 unanswered points. All of the girls had no problems getting away from their defenders and into the endzone. Interceptions from Minh, Stone, and Jonathan throttled the KCM offense. To cap off the game, Mikhael hit Analisa for her first career TD, skyrocketing team morale going into the playoffs.

Heading into the championship game against CASA, there was a lot on the line for the Chess Club. The media had created narratives such as “Was their championship a fluke?” “Had CASA taken over the mantle as the best team in the league?” “Was the CASA offense going to revolutionize the way the game was played?”

The Chess Club felt the gravity of the moment. Their QB had stated in an interview that he wasn't scared and guaranteed victory. There were also rumors of a possible relationship between CASA captain Tasha and Chess Club captain Mikhael. Fans were wondering how Mikhael would react to seeing Tasha lined up against him on the other side of the field—especially after she had his number in the regular season match.

In the game, CASA struck first, going down the field and putting up a touchdown and two-point conversion to take an 11-point lead. Chess Club immediately answered by finding Ella in the end zone to tie the score. CASA then threw back-to-back interceptions to Cristian and Tai, which allowed Chess Club to take a commanding 12-point lead.

With the ball at the one-yard line, Chess Club tried to ice the game. Mikhael threw a jump ball to Anna, and it was nearly caught, but ultimately deflected backward to a defender who caught it and took off running the other way. Mikhael was able to track him down around midfield. CASA would score and cut the lead down to six.

With two minutes to go, Chess Club needed one first down to seal the game. CASA played tight defense, forcing incompletions on the first three downs. Then, on fourth down, with the championship on the line, Mikhael rolled out and fired a sidearm throw to Anna, who was running a quick out on the right side of the field. Anna secured the catch and took off upfield.

That was it. The Chess Club were champions again. The dynasty was secured.