2020 EDUCATION MAGAZINE

2020 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Page 21 of patterns helps players plan out the strategy in games, which helps them make decisions about their next moves. Hieronymous said chess players develop problem-solving skills as they keep planning and modifying their plan during the game each time they must react and choose a different move. Senior Evan Rohlfs said chess brought something to the table that is a mental sport like scholastic bowl, which he also played. As Rohlfs said, it filled a niche for students who wanted to do something new. Rohlfs said chess requires quite a bit of memorization and following rule sets. Players must strategize and make long term plans, which can help students not only in playing chess but also in the classroom setting. Rohlfs observed that people who do well academically often do well at chess. He stated that his own concentration has improved because he has to focus on every move the other player makes to plan his next move. Rohlfs said this skill helps him learn to stay on task in both the game and his academic work. As the program continues, Rohlfs suggested it should have some good outcomes. Since students can join in junior high and play all throughout high school, some mioght even become expert players. Both non-athletes and athletes alike are part of the Hartem chess club. Rohlfs said the chess club was a good way to bring a variety of people together. Although the chess team included two seniors, the majority were freshmen and sophomores. Hieronymus said, “we were very young this year overall. We also have some good players at the Jr. High level. This should produce good teams for the next few years, and hopefully, next year’s sixth grade class will continue this trend.” Concentration, analysis, strategizing, planning and memorization: the future looks bright for the Hartsburg Emden Chess Team.