When Cameron Elder, now a senior at Elizabethtown Area High School, transferred schools three years ago, he realized his new school didn't have a certain club he was interested in joining.

"I transferred from Warwick, and I noticed E-town didn't have a chess club," he recalled. "I went to Mr. Caputo and said, 'Hey, I want to start a chess club.'"

Joel Caputo, who teaches business, computer and information technology at the high school, was not well-versed in chess, but he was happy to serve as the club's adviser.

From the beginning, Cameron worked with his friend and fellow current senior Caleb Fuge to get the club up and running.

Since then, the boys have grown the group to about 13 students, who practice one or two days a week after school and participate in tournaments both locally and beyond. The club finished its season with a 13-3 record, and several members of the team, including Cameron and Caleb, will compete in the 2025 Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, in Harrisburg.

"I love chess. I love winning, and I love playing because it gives me something to do when I get bored," said Cameron, who has been playing the game for seven years. "I really like this club, because it's not a club that you're required to go to every day. It's one of the more laid-back clubs, so if you just want to play for fun, it's a good club to join."

Caleb learned to play chess with his great-grandfather, who introduced him to the game.

"I've been playing chess since I was 5," he recalled, noting that his great-grandfather had a unique teaching method. "He taught me it from the aspect of the pieces are like people. They have their own jobs. They do certain things that some people can do, and some people cannot. It really helped me to learn the general aspects of chess."

Caleb especially enjoys that the chess club at Elizabethtown provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the game.

"The main reason I'm in this club is to help others," he said. "I really enjoy seeing other people's success. I want to be a leader and set my teammates up to do their best."

He emphasizes that while chess has a reputation as a difficult game, it can be played by anyone.

"A lot of people think chess is a smart person's game," he said. "It's really not. It's pattern recognition and being confident in yourself. ... I think the reason why it's so misconstrued is because it's really hard to master chess. I'm not going to sugarcoat that. But anyone can play chess."

Jessica Henry, who teaches gifted students at the high school and serves as the club's co-adviser, said students in the club come from all sorts of backgrounds.

"This club is fully inclusive," she noted. "It doesn't matter if you're neurodivergent or in a mainstream classroom. Everybody gets a space, and everyone gets to feel comfortable here."

Both Cameron and Caleb have extensive experience with chess - and impressive win records. This season, Cameron went 16-0 in their league. Caleb was also undefeated, with 13 wins and three draws. When he played Cameron individually, however, his teammate bested him.

Both boys have competed in numerous tournaments, and their visit to states later this month will be their third time there.

For freshman Hannah Szobocsan, the club is a new experience. She joined just a few weeks ago.

"I've always been interested in chess, but I have never played before," she said.

She was a bit worried about how she'd do with the game.

"I am bad at checkers or any game that involves strategy at all," she commented, "but I'm having fun. I actually like the strategy involved in chess, and I like that you have to think ahead."

Caleb, who has a coach who helps him improve his chess skills, said he's inspired by chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion.

He also said he loves chess even if he doesn't win, and he points out that losing has merit.

"Losing is part of life," he said. "I have lost games, even if Cameron and I have not lost in the school chess league. If you don't lose, you're never going to get better."

He also loves that chess is truly a game for anyone.

"It's 0-0 at the start, and you both have the same pieces. You start in the same position," he said. "It's really about how much skill you have, how much knowledge you have. I feel like that applies to life as well. Sometimes in life, you just want to go through the motions. You just want to move the pieces. But, if you just start thinking things through, being intentional and thinking ahead, you can achieve a lot."

Above all, Caleb said, chess provides an opportunity to build community.

"You can play chess anywhere, with anyone," he said. "People from all different walks of life can pick up chess, and that's really the beauty of it."