[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING MENDOTA HIGH SCHOOL CHESS TEAM

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2011

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mendota High 
School Chess Team, home of the mighty Aztecs, on their first place 
victory at the CalChess State Championships held recently in Santa 
Clara, California. This event drew more than 1,300 students from over 
100 schools from across our great Golden State.
  This victory is especially fitting as it clearly embodies the classic 
``underdog'' tale. Mendota is not where you would normally expect to 
find the state's top high school chess team. As their coach Vaness 
French explained, ``I taught my kids a long time ago, don't be 
frightened by the bedazzled or the bling-bling . . . I have never told 
them we couldn't win.''
  A small agricultural community, Mendota is located in the western 
portion of California's Central Valley. I am proud to represent this 
community with its population of 10,000. Historically known for its 
reputation as The Cantaloupe Center of the World; sadly Mendota has 
recently become known to many in our nation for its chronic high 
unemployment rate, at times hovering near 45%. Most residents of 
Mendota are hard working migrant farmworkers and earn, on average, one-
third of what other Californians earn. Culturally, chess is not a game 
played in the homes of many Mendota families, who are busy simply 
trying to make ends meet.
  Yet, despite these tremendous odds, the students from Mendota High 
School returned home as state champions, winning first place in the 
Premier Division and earning eight team and individual medals and 
trophies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the hard 
work, dedication and spirit of strategic competitiveness that runs 
through each and every one of these impressive students. I congratulate 
students Julian Estrada, Chrispen Reyes, Luis Castillo, Felipe Beltran, 
Jessi Mendez, Kevin Romero, Sergio Mayares, Milton Arroyo, and Edwin 
Brioso and Coach Vaness French on their great victory and ask that you 
join me in wishing continued success to all those at Mendota High 
School who worked so tirelessly on this victory.

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