[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM MAKES IT TO THE NCAA 
                   DIVISION II ELITE EIGHT TOURNAMENT

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity 
today to recognize an extraordinary group of young athletes from 
Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Northern State 
University Men's Basketball Team won the 1998 NCAA Division II North 
Central Regional Basketball Championship held on Sunday, March 8, 1998 
in Brookings, South Dakota. In a battle of South Dakota basketball 
powers, NSU took charge in the final minute to win a hard-fought 
victory over South Dakota State University. The NSU Wolves, with a 27-5 
record, ended the season in a close 67-63 loss to Virginia Union 
University in the 1998 NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament.
  The athletes that made this great season happen include Scott Hanson, 
Jared Miller, Todd Schlekeway, Ryan Miller, Kyle Johnson, Dan Fischer, 
Jim Sumption, Jake Phillips, Ross Pankratz, Dustin Undlin, Mark Rich, 
Ben Dahl, Jeff Rich, Andy Foster and Brad Hansen. Their coaches 
include: Bob Olson, Mike Hultz, Brad Christenson, Craig Smith and Kent 
Leiss. Team Managers are Joe Flynn and Justin Forde. The NSU strength 
coach is Doug Bull, and the training staff is directed by Lisa 
McIntyre. The NSU Wolves cheerleaders are Jennifer Eye, Tonya Bird, 
Jackie Hortes, Jaine Fauth, Erica Paulson, Gary Olson along with 
advisor Susan Rozell.
  I want to commend Coach Olson for providing outstanding leadership to 
the NSU team, and I also want to compliment Ryan Miller on his 
contribution of 45 points in the regional championship game.
  The State of South Dakota has much to be proud of in this 
accomplishment. I again want to congratulate all of these fine young 
athletes from Northern State University, and to all the many others who 
contributed to this outstanding accomplishment.

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