Medina Mathis proudly proclaims that the players at Cass Tech High are among "Detroit's Finest." In fact, she told The Chess Drum's Daaim Shabazz that she uses that moniker quite often… even as her cell phone handle. While her birth name is "Medina" it is often spelled "Madina." She stated that she has started using the original name. When told that there was a standout scholastic player from New York named Medina (Parrilla), she quipped about the tense rivalry between the two cities and restated the power of Detroit chess.

The 3rd year student recently returned from the All-Girls tournament in Chicago where she lead Cass to 1st place under-18 making it the 3rd consecutive year that the team has accomplished that feat. She had to overcome allergies, but mustered enough strength to  take 2nd in the under-18 category.

Mathis is self-assured in her ambitions as she recounted her beginnings. She learned in 3rd grade from Harold Stein while at Clinton Elementary. However, Mr. Stein left a few months later and Mathis did not play chess for another five years. She then attended Hutchins Middle School and resumed her chess activities in 8th grade. In the 8th grade she made her debut in the National tournament scoring 5/7 under the tutelage of  Douglas Carey.

Coach Carey has also accompanied the Cass teams to Chicago where they have garnered four 1st place, four 2nd place team trophies in addition to 22 individual trophies. Mathis quipped about Coach Carey and his penchant for taking the trophies directly to the school. "It makes you proud, but when you go home and tell them you won, you have nothing to show for it," says Mathis. Carey told The Chess Drum that he displays the cache of trophies in the school before allowing the players to take them home. The idea is to show the success of the players thus to gain more interest from administration and students.

Medina Mathis at the All-Girls tournament in Chicago where she placed 2nd in the under-18 section. Photo by Betty Dynako.

Mathis has played for Cass Tech the past three years under coach Glen Barnett. In her first year at Cass Tech, she scored 5½/7 in Nationals. Last year, she went 15-0 in league play and lead her team to victory at the All-Girls tournament. This year, the team "three-peated" and Mathis states that her focus is to continue the streak. 

Certainly there will be many more chances for "Detroit's Finest" to show their winnings. This year the team added scholastic standout James "Jimmy" Canty with whom she has a friendly, but competitive friendship. Mathis spoke with excitement about the prospects for the team after adding Canty, Cass' top board. This year Cass won the city title (and 4th in state) with top player Canty winning a gold medal in the state tournament. Next year Cass will get even stronger with the addition of both Sherman Redden and Kayeen Kemp.

Mathis and Canty both joke their friendly rivalry, but  one thing is for certain… Detroit chess has established a viable system. The more players joining Cass' team from the accomplished Duffield Middle School. Perhaps Duffield will one day rival the legend of Philadelphia's Vaux Jr. High, who won seven National Championships in a row.  This may mean more championships for Cass Tech. The team is currently in Kansas City, Missouri for the National K-12 Championships held April 13-15. Medina will not make the trip, but a bright future awaits.

Cass Technical High School at 2007 All-Girls Tournament: (L to R) Keyanna Coleman, L'Quan Thomas, Medina Mathis, Ashley Bish, Ayanna Thomas, Devyne Lloyd (Seated) Photo courtesy of Douglas Carey.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 13 April 2007