MCC makes move to chess club

MCC makes move to chess club

#MasonCountySchoolNews.

By Samuel Gillette, MCP Correspondent.

SCOTTVILLE– A chess club has been created at Mason County Central High School (MCCHS). The effort was led by Thomas Trahey, librarian and teacher of online courses at MCCHS, with student participation. After several students told teachers that they would be interested in a chess club, Mr. Trahey volunteered to advise and supervise the club.  He now hosts the club members at the MCCHS Library and teaches the members of different chess strategies.

Student Bryan Schaub, now one of the most enthusiastic club members, first submitted the request to start a chess club to MCCHS Principal Jeff Tuka. The request was approved a week later, and the club was born.  It started out with just a few chess sets owned by the school, but the Makers Market of Ludington donated several mini chess sets. However, the club is still in need of larger chess sets as well as chess clocks.

The club members meet every Tuesday at the MCCHS Library for lessons and practice from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and holds a lunchtime tournament once per month. Mr. Trahey has already taught many basic strategies and is currently teaching the club members about the Sicilian defense, a common strategy used in chess games.

The chess club not only provides a fun and free extracurricular activity for students but is also a great brain exercise for the students.

“It is one of my favorite things when someone who barely knew how to play (chess) two months ago beats me in a game that I’m trying my best to win. I get so excited and that really drives home the fact that we are doing something great here,” said Mr. Trahey. “It is very good to see students thinking and talking about chess, discussing games, calling others over to see a great fork or discovered attack… The coolest thing to me is I see students from other classrooms with downtime who come borrow a chess board to play.”

Mr. Trahey and the chess club members would like to eventually reach out to other schools for tournaments. However, they are waiting for membership to stabilize before they compete.

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