[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             SERGIO ESPINOZA AND THE USIAA--TRUE CHAMPIONS

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 1997

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute one of my 
constituents, Sergio Espinoza, the first San Diegan to win the National 
Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, and also to pay tribute to the 
U.S. Institute of Amateur Athletics, the organization that provided 
Sergio with the training that led him to his victory.
  Boxing for the U.S. Institute of Amateur Athletics, Sergio was 
crowned 106-pound National Golden Gloves Champion on May 3, 1997. This 
tournament has a distinguished history that spans 70 years of 
pugilistic excellence.
  Sergio is an intense young man from my congressional district, who 
began boxing 4 years ago. In his short career, he won a national 
tournament for 17 to 19-year-old boxers, and reached the quarterfinals 
in the World Junior Championship in Cuba. He has served notice to the 
world that he will be a force in the next Olympics.
  I am proud to have the U.S. Institute of Amateur Athletics located in 
my own 50th Congressional District. The USIAA has succeeded in both 
training and educating student athletes. Under the guidance of its 
executive director, Mr. Robert C. Coons, and a very dedicated board of 
directors, the USIAA has become a permanent fixture in amateur 
athletics in San Diego.
  The success of Sergio Espinoza and many other young people from USIAA 
who have represented our city, depend on a community that is willing to 
share its time, its talent, and its financial resources. In that sense, 
all of my constituents in the 50th Congressional District share in his 
victory.
  Sergio and the USIAA serve as role models for our community--they are 
true champions and heroes.
  The citizens of San Diego will honor the remarkable achievement of 
Sergio Espinoza in a homecoming celebration to be held May 29, 1997, at 
High Park Church in San Diego. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues 
join with me in saluting this fine young man, his family, friends, and 
the organization that he has represented so well in competition, the 
USIAA.

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