UAW-Ford’s Best of Young Detroit
December 14-20, 2016
Page C-4
Catherine Martinez’ 13-year Chess Club journey has been lucky for everyone involved, especially Detroit youth players and parents and very professional, probably the most professional person I have ever dealt with.” Fite said Martinez’ support of the Chess Club and Detroit youth does not end at the tournament registration table. “She has taken money out of her pocket to pay for registration for kids, designed shirts for us, done marketing for us, and she is always promoting our program on social media,” said Fite, of his volunteer Detroit City Chess Club board member. “We got Focus: HOPE as a venue for our Thinkers Tournaments because of her outreach online.”
sharing the many accomplishments of youth connected to the Detroit City Chess Club, including a groundbreaking victory in the “Under 14” category at the KCF AllGirls National Championship registered by a team from University Prep Science & Math last April. Martinez said chess’ unique ability to break down barriers is empowering to youth. “A child in elementary school may play a high school student at a tournament,” she said. “In chess, age, race, and social class does not matter. The children just play the game.” To learn more about the Detroit City Chess Club, please visit detroitchess.com.
Happy to serve: Children participating in Thinkers Chess Tournaments, such as the one held Dec. 3 at Focus: Hope, have come to expect a warm greeting and smile from Detroit City Chess Club volunteer board member Catherine Martinez. By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle When others said it was not possible, the Detroit City Chess Club believed our city could host quality youth chess tournaments on an ongoing basis. That belief gave birth to a series of tournaments presented by Young Detroit Thinkers, the nonprofit arm of the Detroit City Chess Club. The Thinkers Chess Tournament series is now in its seventh year, but this would not have been possible without the special contributions of unsung heroes and that is why people like Catherine Martinez are so valuable to our community. “Catherine Martinez is one of the faces of the Detroit Thinkers,” said Kevin Fite, founder of the Detroit City Chess Club. “She has done the registration at our Thinkers Tournaments for the past seven years and greets everyone with a smile. She is just very dedicated, very warm to all of our
Martinez first began supporting the Chess Club when her son Elijah was seven years old and taking part in the open chess sessions that the Detroit City Chess Club puts on Friday evenings at the Detroit Institute of Arts. That was 13 years ago, but Martinez’ support of the Club remains just as strong today. “I love chess, I love Coach Fite’s vision and the results chess gives the kids in Detroit,” said Martinez, who does cyber security work at DTE Energy. When listing the benefits of chess to Detroit youth, Martinez cites critical thinking, but she said there is also a strong social responsibility element to the Detroit City Chess Club. “We’re very community and family centered—this is a chess family,” said Martinez, whose 14-year-old daughter Lauren is a part of that family, as well as a relatively new member of the Cass Tech chess team. Martinez added: “We do community service and we have children mentoring each other, we’re very concerned about building the character of the child.” Martinez takes tremendous pride in
Recognizing excellence: Thomas Wilcher, a finalist for a prestigious national coaching award, spoke about PSL pride during a Dec. 9 Champions Luncheon honoring the Cass Tech and King football teams.
Cass Tech’s Thomas Wilcher is finalist for national coaching award Cass Tech head football coach Thomas Wilcher, who led the Technicians to a 14-0 season and the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 title, is one of six national finalists for the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl Coach of the Year Award. The award “honors the nation’s top high school football coach for exceptional coaching abilities and leadership skills, and acknowledges the coach’s role as a positive influence to young Americans on and off the field.” The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Coach of the Year will be recognized during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Awards Show on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.
Former King standout plays key role for surging Pitt Panthers One of the biggest giant slayers in college football this season was the University of Pittsburgh coached by former Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. The Panthers boasted victories over highly regarded Penn State and Clemson en route to going 8-4 during the regular season. Following are some of the top performers during recent basketball games involving Detroit PSL teams: BOYS Kelly Broadus, Frederick Douglass, scored 23 points in a 60-57 victory against Public Safety Academy on Dec. 6. The game was a season opener for both teams. Carlos Walker and Jarnard Smith, Frederick Douglass, each scored 18 points against Public Safety Academy. Anthony Taylor and Brandon Green, Mumford, each scored 18 points in a 64-32 victory against Ecorse on Dec. 6. Charles Noel, Mumford, scored 10 points against Ecorse. Isaiah Cunningham, Cody, registered 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 64-13 victory against Cesar Chavez Academy on Dec. 9. Charles Burnett, Cody, had 16 points and six assists against Cesar Chavez Academy.
GIRLS Vantane Garrett, CMA, scored 19 points to go along with four steals and three assists in a 43-13 victory against Delta Prep Academy on Dec. 8. Jamiya Owens, CMA, grabbed 10 rebounds against Delta Prep. Jamila Gortham, Denby, scored 13 points in a 44-33 victory against Henry Ford on Dec. 8. Kendal Taylor, Denby, scored 11 points against Henry Ford. Asjah Hayes, Denby, scored 10 points against Henry Ford.
A major contributor for Pittsburgh was former King standout Avonte Maddox, a starting cornerback for the Panthers. Maddox, who was featured in UAW Ford’s Michigan Chronicle Scholar Athletes publication in 2014, is now a junior at Pittsburgh. Despite missing a quarter of the season due to injuries, Maddox made 42 tackles, including eight tackles for loss in 2016. His highlights also included 2.5 sacks and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown on the final play of the game against Marshall. The Panthers will return to action on Dec. 28 for a matchup against Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl at New York’s Yankee Stadium.
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