The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Saturday, February 12, 1972 - Page 5 ★
Youth In Action: Chess Club Members Find Excitement In Competition by Milan Wall, Star Staff Writer
Leaders of an East High School club who admit they are members of an “ignored minority” still exhibit as much enthusiasm about their extra-curricular activity as their sports-minded counterparts.
“We spend more time (at practice) than any football players,” said Roger Holmstedt, vice president of the East High chess club.
“It's important to us,” added Mike Mathews, club president, “although most don't realize it.”
Won Championship
The two chess enthusiasts do boast, however, that chess players won the five-year-old school's first state title in 1970 by capturing the Nebraska high school championship chess crown.
And they say, thanks to Bobby Fischer, chess is emerging from its low profile to gain some popularity nationally. Fischer is the young American who has been lauded as a chance at the world crown.
The East High students says most of their peers “run away cackling wildly” when they're told about the chess club.
But the two noted that East High students will soon be able to earn school letters in chess.
That, they say, doesn't set well with the more sports-minded high schoolers of today.
Mistaken Notion
“Sports fans think the only thing” worthy of a letter is “when you're risking your life,” noted Mike.
Mike, a 17-year-old senior, and Roger a junior at 16, both start each school day with chess—the members of the club grab an open room at East each morning at 8 a.m. and play til classes start 45 minutes later.
The youths both say they've been playing chess “seriously” for about three years, and both are now members of the U.S. Chess Federation.
Nationally Rated
Those membership give them nationally recognized ratings and put them into contests that could, with luck and a barrel full of skill, put one of them or others like them into a national championship some day.
The chess “season” lasts virtually all school year — the four Lincoln public high schools hold matches throughout the nine months of school.
The two are also currently playing in the city tournament, will enter the state high school tournament on Feb. 26 and are planning an Omaha-Lincoln match for early March.
“I like to think we have friendly competition,” said Mike.
“Nobody plans for blood,” he said.
But he added: “We do have the normal school spirit.”
Deep In Thought Sat, Feb 12, 1972 – Page 5 · The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
Youth in Action: Chess Club Members Find Excitement in Competition Sat, Feb 12, 1972 – Page 5 · The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
