Lemon’s new chess team off to promising start
 MARCH 4, 2009 – Where chess is concerned, they may be the new kids on the block. But the Lewis Lemon Elementary School Lions are experiencing a commendable level of success in their freshmen year as a team.
At a regional tournament in February, the Lions finished seventh overall among 16 elementary teams representing public and private schools in Rockford and the surrounding area. Third-grader Johann Madix placed first among unrated players in the competition at RESA Middle School. In individual competitions among 120 players, three Lemon students earned fifth-place honors: Madix, first-grader Trenton Thomas and fifth-grader Cesar Martinez.
“A number of them are really taking quite well to the game,” coach AmyCarol Mosca said. “Learning chess is helping all of them in the classroom with problem-solving skills and thinking ahead.”
Mosca, who played on her high school chess team, said the game also teaches students the value of teamwork. Even though players compete individually, teams are ranked by cumulative results so students must share strategies and discuss mistakes during practice.
“We’ve had a lot of parent support, and the kids really love it. It’s a battle of the minds,” Mosca said. “They like knowing that the person who wins played a better game – and it’s a mental game, so that boosts their self-esteem.”
Lemon’s chess team has 14 members in kindergarten through fifth grade; the Lions compete next in a tournament at 8 a.m. March 14 at North Boone Middle School. |
