Houlton chess players hold their game in high regard

Many times student-athletes credit sports for changing their behavior or lives. That is no different for those student-athletes who take to a board, instead of a field, rink or court.
“Checkmate! The word can make you cry or get excited,” said Timothy Youngfellow. “Chess is my life. The adrenaline pumps when I take my seat. I compare everything to chess — games, war and even my thoughts.”
    Houlton High School is in its fifth season of offering chess to its students.
This year, the chess team consists of Youngfellow, Cody Queen, Devin Ivey, Shaina Hamilton, Levi Chasse, Casey Smith and Duncan Bradshaw.
The Houlton High School chess team is open to any high school student, even those in other schools, who will play independent. The team practices each Monday at the high school cafeteria and usually has from two to eight players.
Second-year player Hamilton learned how to play chess from her seventh grade math teacher.
“I fell in love with it,” she said. “I always enjoy the process of evaluating each move and countering the opponent’s move.”
When Hamilton reached junior high school, she discovered the high school chess club.
“I begged my mom to let me join,” she recalled. “When she said ‘yes’ I was thrilled.”
The Houlton High School chess team is coached by avid chess player Roger Morin of Houlton.
“Mr. Morin taught me so much that I never knew,” Hamilton said.
But, Hamilton’s favorite part of chess isn’t just playing, but competing in tournaments.
“Traveling to different places and challenging new people is an amazing experience because you learn so much,” she said.
The Houlton chess team competes in the Aroostook League against teams from Van Buren, Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Kent.
One of the high school players, Bradshaw has played competitively with professional players.
“Chess is a fun, but challenging pastime,” Bradshaw admitted. “Chess can be played by any person and puts your brain to work. I love playing chess, both professionally and just for fun. Every time you play, it is a different scenario.”
For another veteran strategist, Queen, chess is just plain ol’ fun.
“Chess is a time to think,” he said. “It’s exercising the mind. It’s a time to be quiet and to take time. Chess is waiting and then moving.”
Queen explained chess is a time for laughter and a time to spend with friends.
“Chess also means a time to forget all of the day’s problems and to focus on a simple, yet, complex game of intelligence and strategy,” he said. “Chess is a game. Chess is a smile.”
A typical chess match takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour to complete, so the old adage patience is a virtue comes into play in this game.
“It’s about thinking out moves,” said Smith. “You have to see an opponent’s move. You have to think and be calm.”
“It’s a game of strategy,” added Ivey.  “It’s a thinking game.”
Chasse terms chess a “friendly war” between two people that requires strength of mind.
“[It’s a game of] perseverance and the will to work through a check, but also to learn from a checkmate,” he said.