Wheaton Warrenville South tabletop game enthusiasts are reshuffling the deck for next year: Card Club and Board Game Club are merging to become bigger and better. The student body has started many new clubs in recent years, but these two clubs, which have just enjoyed their inaugural year here at South, have highlighted the interest in screen-free games. Now, they’re joining forces to bring old-fashioned fun to a wider membership.

Board Game Club began with a roar! The club presidents, seniors Brayden Andersen, Patrick Malone, and Troy Dunlap, wanted to create a space for people to come and hang out while enjoying unique games. The club is full of laughs and fun. Everyone is able to bring their own board games and share them with the group, so it’s a different experience each time. English teacher Richard Mitchell acted as their club sponsor, facilitating casual and competitive games. ”It’s a great way to allow students to unplug,” Mitchell says. 

Board Game Club’s counterpart, Card Club, was a gamble at first, but thanks to a successful Euchre tournament, it grew a regular crowd. “Sometimes we’ll have organized games,” the president of Card Club, Max Dudick, shares when asked what types of games are played at the club. “But, people are welcome to free play, it’s anything you want.” 

Card Club is open to anyone and any game, with restrictions on gambling, of course. The club is very welcoming and open, thanks to sponsor Holly Wierschem and club president Dudick, who wanted to open up the opportunity for students to learn how to play cards in a safe — and money-free — environment. 

The merger between the two clubs will be in full swing next year. The clubs are looking to combine to open up more opportunities for anybody who hasn’t had the chance to join this year. “It is a good step,” Andersen says. “There are a lot of seniors, so this will give the underclassmen a chance to join.”

If you are interested in joining next year, they plan to meet every Thursday, switching meeting rooms between Mitchell’s room, G180, and Wierschem’s room, G181, to play games and cards.  It is open to play whichever games you want, both card and tabletop. So if you’re on board, come deck yourself out and play! The only risk there is having too much fun.