Chess Great Inspires Legacy For North Central Club
Nate Fewel lit the torch Tyler Ross now carries.
A dynasty of chess champions is in the making at North Central High School. And chess club coach Tim Cox couldn’t be more pleased.
For the last two years, Fewel was the top player in the state. Now, Ross, a senior, has taken his rightful place on the throne.
Ross may be one of the 10 best players in the state, Cox said.
Fewel is now a freshman attending the University of Texas on a chess and academic scholarship, Cox said.
“Nate stopped in during Christmas break. If you can believe it, he has improved tremendously. He’s now rated an expert,” Cox said. “(Tyler) didn’t beat him, but he was a challenge for Nate.”
When Fewel was 16, he played and defeated 14 of his classmates at one time in chess matches in the school’s cafeteria. He beat them all in less than 40 minutes.
Fewel went on to whip another 15 opponents later in the day in the same amount of time.
But Ross’ performance against Fewel caught Cox’s attention.
“Tyler’s very, very good right now,” he said. “Tyler consistently beats me. I’ve been playing since fourth grade, and I’m 32.”
Ross plays the piano and is active in NC’s drama club. But chess is his passion.
“Even though there are titles of master and grandmaster, there is no way to master the game,” Ross said. “No matter how long you play or how much you study, you can never claim you know everything about chess.”
The success and attention Fewel and Ross have received has sparked an interest in chess at NC. The school’s club has 27 members, 18 of whom are active, Cox said.
The club officially started last year. Fewel, a former ASB president, approached Cox and asked him if he thought it would be a good idea to start the club.
Chess boards and pieces were purchased, the formation of the club was announced and grew practically overnight.
Ross won the high school individual championship held at Mt. Spokane High School last month. He may add to his achievements on Wednesday when North Central hosts a local team chess championship starting at 3 p.m.
Teams from Cheney, East Valley, Central Valley, Rogers, Mt. Spokane, Gonzaga Prep and North Central high schools are scheduled to participate. The top four players from each of those schools will square off against each other.
At the end of the month, the Washington State High School Chess Tournament will be held at Shorecrest High School in Seattle.
Next year, Cox is hoping to start a chess league involving more schools similar to the leagues that exist for Seattle area kids.
He thinks there’s enough local interest to do that.
“Chess calls on kind of a different kind of kid. Someone who’s intelligent and competitive, can study and concentrate on their own,” Cox said.
“You have to read books and study the game. It calls on the academically minded. The debate-type kid. It’s mind wrestling.”
Cox teaches math and computer programming at North Central. He said the majority of the club comes from those disciplines, but all students are encouraged to sign up.
After all, somebody’s going to have carry the NC torch.
Ross is NC’s No. 1 player now, but after he graduates, that distinction will most likely go to junior Bryce Harrison, the club’s current No. 2 player.
“It’s going to be tough,” Harrison said. “Nate and Tyler are so good that people expect you to be just as good.”
So Harrison engaged in a natural strategy. He paid Fewel for private lessons when Nate came home for Christmas break.
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