[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    A TRIBUTE TO THE NEEDLES MUSTANGS

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 27, 1995
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to bring to your 
attention today a remarkable group of individuals who recently made the 
citizens of Needles, CA particularly proud. I am speaking of the 
Needles High School varsity football team--the Mustangs--who will be 
remembered not for their record but for the fact that they played like 
champions all season. To me, and many others, they are winners in every 
sense of the word.
  The Mustangs, who started the season with only 18 players, worked 
extremely hard to represent their school but suffered a number of 
heartbreaking injuries during the season. In fact, in one game, 9 
members of the team played every single play of the game on offense and 
defense because injuries left the team with only 13 players dressed to 
play. For most of the season, the squad was outmanned, undersized, and 
overwhelmed by larger schools. But the Mustangs never quit. They fought 
hard and, more importantly, played with heart, winning the respect of 
their families, opposing coaches, and the entire community.
  It would have been easy for these kids to give up going into their 
last game of the season winless. But they didn't. Because they would 
not ever quit, the Mustangs fought for every yard and persevered in the 
face of adversity, winning a hard fought contest, 25 to 18. When the 
final gun had sounded, one would have thought they had won the Super 
Bowl. I guess in many respects they did. Most inspiring was the fact 
that these young men, all from different ethnic and cultural 
backgrounds, demonstrated what it means to work together, to continue 
to work hard, and to never give up. Their committee, courage, and 
determination provides an example for us all to admire, and emulate. 
They are our greatest hope for the future of Needles and the future of 
our country. To me, and the many people who make Needles their home, it 
was truly a championship year.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and the many 
friends of the Needles Mustangs in recognizing their commitment to 
winning on and off the field. They have taught all of us many things 
and are certainly worthy of recognition by the House today.


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