A different game play

Matthew Grover may not be an athlete, but he can hold his own against the Gonzaga Prep football team.

In fact, “the king” taught the jocks his moves.

This fall, 17-year-old Grover decided that if he couldn’t beat the G-Prep competitors at their own game, he’d invite them to partake in his: the game of chess.

“Sometimes they think they are high and mighty, and sometimes somebody needs to cut them down a little,” Grover said. “Out there, it’s their turf; in here, it’s mine.”

Since becoming manager of the football team in 2005, Grover has developed a playful but adversarial relationship with the football players.

The jocks tease him about his lack of athleticism, and he counters by inviting them to a duel on the chessboard.

Grover may do their laundry, but he enjoys competition as much as the next guy.

“He’s always challenging us,” said defensive end Mac Andrews. “You could say there’s a little taunting from Grover.”

Early this school year, football players started showing up at twice-weekly lunchtime chess club meetings. They’d line up outside, waiting to take a crack at Grover, whom they call “the king.”

“I think Grover was looking for easy pickings,” said Andre Cossette, chess club adviser and teacher.

To Grover’s surprise, some of the challengers were pretty good.

Fast-forward five months into the school year. Several of the jocks competed with the king in the Greater Spokane League chess championships hosted Friday by Ferris High School.

The students at G-Prep and those at the GSL chess tournament scoffed at the stereotypes often assigned to those who play chess, an ancient game of intellectual strategy and fierce competition.

“Chess is for everyone,” said Khai Le, a Ferris freshman and member of that school’s chess club. “I consider it a sport. It has all the elements, and it’s always fun to beat somebody up, even mentally.”

He pointed to DeAngelo Casto, a Ferris chess club member and varsity basketball player who competed in Friday’s tournament.

“It really is for everyone,” Le said.

Two of the top players on the G-Prep chess club – Kelly Henthorn and Kyle Martin – are varsity football players. And both can easily beat Grover.

Tight end Danny Workland is still working on it. As are quarterback Max Manix and wide receiver Michael Stockton.

Manix and Stockton are not chess club regulars and don’t usually compete in tournaments because of their athletic schedules – both play varsity basketball in addition to football.

But they show up in Room 45 at G-Prep every now and again to attempt to dethrone “the king.”

“He comes in here thinking he’s hot stuff,” teased Stockton, who has beaten Grover only twice. “Whenever Grover starts getting full of himself, they call me in to take care of it. I’m the specialist.”

Manix said that after a whupping by Grover, he usually takes a “month off to recoup.”

Then Grover will “talk a little trash” and Manix will show up to play again.

Manix and Stockton are both seniors and lamented that next year Grover, a junior, will have to find fresh prey.

“I don’t know what he is going to do without us,” Manix said.