[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 26 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MT. ZION SEVENTH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

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                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 29, 1996

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate 
the Mt. Zion, IL, seventh grade boys basketball team and their coach, 
Jeff Sams, for winning the Illinois Elementary School Association 7AA 
State championships. Their tremendous team effort brought them back 
from a four point half-time deficit against the favored Lincoln 
Trojans. I join their families and the rest of Mt. Zion in honoring 
their achievement.
  As all of us sports fans know, February and March are the height of 
the high school and college basketball seasons. The Super Bowl is over, 
the first sounds of spring training are just being heard, and playoffs 
in pro basketball and hockey are still weeks away. Moreover, in small 
towns across America, local sports are the only game that matters, and 
a community's pulse can be measured by how the local teams fare. This 
is the case in Mt. Zion, where 2,500 turned out to watch the 
championship game. They were not disappointed, as the Braves shot 58 
percent en route to the victory. The excitement of playing before such 
a crowd is truly an exhilarating experience that those players won't 
soon forget, and the thrill that the team gave to the community is 
equally special. As coach Sams said, ``I found the whole experience to 
be an unforgettable memory for everyone involved.''
  Mr. Speaker, sports also serve to develop qualities in our children 
that will help them throughout their lives. Leadership, team play, and 
the value of physical fitness are all integrally linked to success, and 
I am confident that all of Mt. Zion's players will achieve even greater 
heights in their future endeavors. I would like to congratulate them 
again, and mention their names: Aaron Barger, Stephen Barger, Sean 
Brewer, Justin Cox, Jonathan Ellis, Ryan Kistenfeger, Matt McCollom, 
Neil Plank, Jake Sams, Josh Stonecipher, Matthew Trusner, and Chad 
Watson.

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