[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 91 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE IDLEWILD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONS

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2025

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Idlewild 
Elementary School Chess Team champions, and their coach Mark Beatty, on 
their impressive run of successes this year. The 15-member team won the 
2025 Henry D. Sabine State Scholastic Team Chess Tournament in both the 
kindergarten through third grade and kindergarten through fifth grade 
categories. The wins qualified them for a trip to Orlando, Florida, 
earlier this month to compete in the National Elementary Championship 
hosted by the U.S. Chess Federation. Beatty founded the Idlewild team 
in 2013. He also coached chess teams at Grahamwood Elementary, White 
Station Middle School and White Station High School where his teams 
have won 45 state team titles. Idlewood, my elementary school alma 
mater and the only school in Tennessee to receive the Top Magnet School 
of Excellence designation, also sent teams to the national chess 
tournaments in 2024 and 2023. This proud tradition puts Idlewild on a 
short list of the Nation's best elementary schools and its students 
deserve our encouragement and respect. They are certainly living up to 
their motto: ``Children First, Excellence Always!''

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