Park Slope's PS/MS 282 brings home national chess title

When you hear about Park Slope's great public schools, PS 321 and PS 107 usually get all the glory. But the chess team at PS/MS 282 has some serious bragging rights when it comes to chess. They just kicked ass at a three day national chess tournament in Nashville, TN. According to the Brooklyn Paper: 

PS/MS 282’s Royal Panthers won first place in their age groups, beating out hundreds of teams from throughout the country.

“We worked and worked and worked some more,” said their coach Steve Colding of the victorious team that got psyched up before each match with deep breathing exercises, a group huddle, and a boisterous roar. “I’m really humbled — the children have worked so hard all year long.”

It was the children’s dedication to the game that scored them their big win, said Colding, who added that the team members even spent their spring break tweaking strategies and honing their skills.

One of the students, fourth-grader Marcus Scott, won every single one of the seven matches he played in, helping to secure the whole team's victory. Have you done anyting that impressive lately? Go Panthers!