[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TENNESSEE CLASS A BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED BRYANT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 1997

  Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, may it be known that the Vikings of Perry 
County High School in Perry County, TN, are Class A basketball 
champions. The feat gave Perry County High School its sixth State 
Championship Trophy for basketball since 1955.
  Twenty-eight times during their regular season, these Vikings took to 
the hardwood floors of Tennessee's high school gymnasiums to measure 
their metal. And those 28 competitions brought upon them the inspiring 
thrill of success and victory. Indeed, their numerous regular season 
achievements, coupled with a sheer desire to win, would carry them to 
victory throughout the district, regional, sub-State, and the pinnacle 
of high school basketball, the State Tournament.
  Coach Bruce Slatten is to be commended for such a fine year of 
coaching. Without his unwavering guidance and devotion to his players, 
this team would likely not have been the same. Seniors Phillip Carroll, 
Kirk Haston, Chris Jones, and Chad Marrs undoubtedly showed team 
leadership throughout the year. Other players who made this team a 
success include Cory Brown, Nick Coble, Shannon Hamm, Ben Mercer, 
Mitchell Rhodes, Blake Warren, Barton Coble, Clay Pope, Josh Warren, 
Dan McEwen, and Josh Walker. Team managers Kenny Tohn, Adam Trull, and 
Ryan Parnell lent helping hands, as did statisticians Jeremy Hester and 
Troy Himes, and cameraman Michael Jones.
  Four Vikings would go on to earn All-State Tournament honors--Cory 
Brown, Kirk Haston, Chris Jones, and Mitchell Rhodes. Mr. Haston was 
named the Single A State Tournament's ``Most Valuable Player,'' and for 
the second year in a row, was named ``Mr. Basketball'' in Tennessee 
Single A basketball.
  I am proud to see Perry County High School uphold its winning and 
championship tradition in high school basketball, and wish this team 
the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

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