For the second year in a row, the Burrowes chess team, known as the Barreling Bishops, placed first in the countywide IU13 Lancaster-Lebanon Chess Team Tournament. In 2025, they placed first. This year, they returned with the same level of focus, tying for first place and showing that their success is not a moment, but a standard they’ve built together.
The Lancaster-Lebanon Chess Team Tournaments bring together elementary and middle school students from across the region in a setting that is both competitive and welcoming. Hosted through IU13, the event creates space for students of varying experience levels to engage in formal tournament play while continuing to learn in real time. Over the course of four rounds, students face opponents they have never met, each bringing a different pace, strategy, and approach to the game.
- Board 1: Henry Linde (Board 1 medalist)
- Board 2: Soren Kanagy (Board 2 medalist)
- Board 3: Josiah Blank
- Board 4: Gerald Pugh
- Board 5: Kaiyel Leonard (alternate)
“The Barreling Bishops of Burrowes Elementary have shown incredible dedication, putting in hours of after-school practice and showing a desire to learn and improve at chess,” said Coach AJ Beamer, Health and Physical Education teacher at Burrowes Elementary. “These qualities have been the foundation for consecutive first-place finishes. While their success over the board is nothing short of impressive, the lessons they have learned from this beautiful game will benefit them as they move forward in life.”
Those lessons show up in ways that go beyond strategy. Chess demands patience and discipline, but it also asks students to navigate moments of uncertainty. A strong position can change quickly. A mistake cannot be taken back. In those moments, students learn how to stay composed, to think through challenges, and to continue forward with intention.
That mindset is reflected in how the team shows up for one another. “It was so much fun to see the team aspect of competition as players who finished up first anxiously awaited to hear their teammates’ results,” Beamer added. “The ability to celebrate with those who won and to show empathy to those who lost exemplified the beauty of team sport. That is the Burrowes Chess Tournament team and the overall chess club.”
What makes this accomplishment stand out requires commitment and commitment with the shared belief in what is possible. Coach Cooper reflected on that impact.
“It is an honor to be able to witness the excellence of the Burrowes chess team as they won the chess championship for the second year in a row,” Cooper shared. “It is a testament to their hard work, their focus, their determination, and their belief in striving for excellence. Winning championships is hard to come by, and to do it twice in a row is a remarkable accomplishment worth noting.”
Every day, learning extends beyond the classroom and our students are encouraged to engage deeply with challenges, think critically, and grow through experience. At Burrowes, that work is happening across a chessboard. Move by move, students are building confidence, strengthening their thinking, and learning what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves.
And for the Barreling Bishops, this is still only the beginning. Give them kudos on our social media.
