[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 48 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      A TRIBUTE TO THE JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______


                       HON. GEORGE E. SANGMEISTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 1994

  Mr. SANGMEISTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a group of truly 
remarkable young men and their equally remarkable leader--the Joliet 
Junior College Men's Basketball Team, the National Junior College 
Athletic Association's 1994 Division II National Champions, and their 
coach, Mr. Pat Klingler.
  The Joliet Junior College Wolves won the title March 19 with a 
thrilling 85-80 victory of over the previous champion, Owens Technical 
College of Ohio.
  Athletic championships are always an impressive achievement, but the 
Wolves triumph is exceptional in that Joliet Junior College had not 
been a consistent national power until very recently, unlike so many 
junior college programs that serve as virtual farm teams for NCAA 
division I schools.
  Much of the credit for this sudden prominence goes to coach Klingler, 
who arrived at the school in 1991. Through coach Klingler's inspiring 
leadership and tireless work, the Wolves completed an incredible 3-year 
turnaround that was capped with the NJCAA Division II Championship last 
month. Appropriately, Mr. Klingler was named National Junior College 
Coach of the Year by College Sports magazine, among his many honors.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Joliet Junior College Men's 
Basketball Team on this great triumph, and wish the squad continued 
success in the future.

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