Thomas D’Aquila | Staff Writer for "The Mount"
The freshman dorm is filled with intense feelings.
Anticipation and rivalry charge the air as students gather together. The reason?
A chess tournament involving the
freshmen class. The room grows quiet to only a dull murmur as the students make
their move. It moves slowly, as the freshmen make decisions “Chess is a game
that is not for the impatience,” said Jimmy Severa, a freshman.
“It’s intense,” said Armel Migondje, a freshman, said of the
tournament’s atmosphere. “After the game, the loser is sad, but it’s still
cheerful, playful and good sportsmanship.”
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Photo by Jacob Tucker
Jack Avilla ( middle) spectates as James Nowdesha (left)
competes against Emmett Kenney (right) in a chess match.
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For Tim Struckman, freshman dean, the idea to have unplugged
activities is supposed to be a build community. “At the beginning of every
freshman year, I try to limit the electronics,” Struckman said. “I want the
boys to interact and get to know each other and board games are a good way to
pass the time.”
Thirty freshmen, both day students and boarders, are
competing along with Struckman and Jack Pritchard, the assistant freshman
dean. The first prize: bragging rights and the privilege of going to lunch
first for the rest of the semester. “
The tournament works as a two bracket system. Students play
after school, before study hall or after study hall. Trying to fit day students
into the picture provides a challenge. But that’s not the only reason not all
of the first matches are made. “Many people are stalling on their matches,”
Struckman said.
The tournament started in an organic way. The boys wanted to
see “which out of them is the best” as Struckman put it. This is the second
year for the chess competition, and it is also Struckman’s second year as freshman dean.
“I’m proud of the participation,” Struckman said. Many
freshmen who have never played chess have been enthusiastic, but the better
players also have been conducting good sportsmanship, according to Struckman. “More
experienced players have been coaching the less skilled players,” said
Struckman. “I was impressed with the ‘no-fear attitude of some students who
have never played.”
For students that are helping others, there is a certain
sense of accomplishment. “I feel like I am helping someone,” Freshman Matthew
Thiel said.
“[During the matches]I can start conversations with people
and we can be interested in chess,” said Severa of the casual nature of the
tournament. “You can’t talk at [state] competitions, you’ll get kicked out.”
Severa has gone to chess competitions with in a club at his grade school, of
which he has been a part of since the third grade. Although he has not been
going with the same frequency due to school, the opportunity of playing now is
a treat. “We have fun competing against each other,” said Severa.
Adjusting to high school is a difficult enough task for any
freshman. Living at school presents itself with its own set of challenges.
Luckily, students have their own way of bonding together which can soften the blow of
homesickness.
