[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       STATE CHAMPIONS FROM THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 1998

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, as we conclude the school year, I would like 
to take a moment to recognize some outstanding young people in the 
Sixth District of North Carolina who can rightfully wear the title of 
``champions.'' We are proud to say that seven schools in our district 
have produced state champions in baseball, soccer, wrestling, tennis, 
and cheerleading. We are proud of these individual and team 
achievements and wish to recognize our North Carolina scholar-athletes.
  We begin with a soccer team that is not only the best in our state, 
but is rated number one in the nation. The Greensboro Day School girls 
soccer team completed an undefeated season with its fourth consecutive 
independent school state championship on May 16. The team ended its 
season with a perfect 21-0 record. In fact, the Bengals have won 42 
straight games and their perfect season vaulted them to the top spot in 
the National Soccer Coaches Association of America-Umbro Top 20 soccer 
poll.
  Congratulations are in order to Head Coach Kim Burroughs, her 
assistants Paul Lieb and Dana Tilley, and every member of the 
Greensboro Day School squad. Contributing to the number one ranking 
were Christian Anton, Lindsey Marshall, Sara Pickens, Katie Carson, 
Mary Katherine Davis, Gabi Lieb, Brooke Marshall, Kelli Robinson, Annie 
Shulman, Landy Douglas, Lauren Groat, Kathleen Martin, Christie 
McGroarty, Emily Norman, Suzanne Cole, Jenee Kwaitkowski, Jenny 
Gilrain, Kirsten Paul, and Kendra Kasik.
  Everyone contributed to the perfect season and the national 
recognition. After winning another state title, Athletic Director 
Freddy Johnson told the Greensboro News & Record that he had t-shirts 
printed with their number two national ranking. When the Greensboro Day 
School girls soccer team made it all the way to number one in the 
nation, the athletic director told the newspaper ``I've got to get them 
new shirts.'' That way everyone will know that the Bengals are number 
one in North Carolina and the U.S.A.
  In fact, our district is the home of two state soccer champions this 
year. On May 30, the High Point Central High School girls soccer squad 
captured the North Carolina 1-A/2-A championship with a 4-0 win over 
Eastern Alamance High School. The Bison were led by MVP Lee Culp who 
had two goals and an assist. The opposing team's coach, Kevin Farrell, 
told the High Point Enterprise, ``She's (Culp) a great player. She's 
able to run and runin this heat, and I think that was a big 
difference.''
  Culp told the newspaper that the win was a team effort. ``I was 
surprised, but I don't think I deserve it (the MVP award) because we 
have 18 great players on this team.'' Everyone would agree with that 
statement. Joining Culp on the championship squad were Sarah Luther, 
Caithlin Williams, Price Keever, Mandi Tinsley, Leslie Olsen, Katie 
Copeland, Jenny Thomas, Jenni Tinsley, Lindsay Walker, Erica Bell, 
Lindsay Holbrook, Mary Orr, Jessica Harrison, Tina Tinsley, Graham 
Magill, Andrea Brown, and Lindsey Husted.
  Congratulations also are in order for Head Coach David Upchurch, his 
assistant Pete Chumbley, and managers Scott Salter, Robert White and 
Kim Liptrap. MVP Culp told the newspaper, ``Right after the game, we 
just turned around and said, `We're going to be back here next year.' 
'' That may or may not happen, but one thing is for sure, we need to 
congratulate the High Point Central girls soccer team for winning this 
year's 1-A/2-A championship.
  Now that we are in the middle of the baseball season, we are pleased 
to announce that two high schools in the Sixth District have captured 
state championships. Eastern Randolph High School won North Carolina's 
2-A baseball title while Northwest Guilford High School captured the 4-
A crown.
  Eastern Randolph defeated Whiteville 8-2 on may 31 to win the 2-A 
championship. Wildcat Head Coach Tommy Maness told the Greensboro News 
& Record that the state title was the goal which was set on the first 
day of practice. ``It seems like it's been an eternity since February 
9,'' Coach Maness said. ``These guys, back then, they set a goal and 
said `hey, we want to win a state championship.' '' It was a goal that 
may have been set last year when Eastern Randolph made it to the state 
semifinals.
  This year, the Wildcats made it all the way to the top thanks to the 
contributions of Coach Maness, his assistants Neill Kivett, Harold 
Kivett, Danny Martin, and Cecil Mack, statisticians Brandie Craven and 
Mary Beth Butt,, and every member of the talented Wildcat squad. 
Congratulations go to Darren Beasley, Anthony Birchette, E.J. Brower, 
Matt Brown, Mickey Burgess, Andrew Conner, Morgan Frazier, Rod 
Goldston, Michael Johnston, Jonathan Kirkman, James Lowe, Zack Moffitt, 
David oats, Greg Rich, Thomas Seawell, Nathan Sheppard, Darrin Stewart, 
and Brian Wright.
  The other Sixth District high school to win a state baseball title 
was Northwest Guilford. Not only did the Vikings capture the state 4-A 
baseball championship on May 31, but the win culminated the 32-year 
career of an outstanding baseball man, Northwest Guilford Head Coach 
Sandy Gann. Coach Gann's final victory gave him a career record of 422-
248 and the first state championship of his remarkable baseball tenure.
  Northwest Guilford defeated Raleigh Athens Drive 7-5 in the 
championship game to capture the 4-A crown. The win was remarkable for 
several reasons. First, Raleigh Athens Drive was ranked 23rd in the 
nation going into the tournament. Second, the Vikings' starting pitcher 
had thrown only two innings all year while the Jaguars' starter was 
ranked by Baseball America as one of the nation's top 10 juniors. 
Finally, not many thought Northwest Guilford would even make it to the 
postseason when the team began the season with a 6-9 mark. The Vikings 
regrouped, however, to finish 18-9 and win the state title.
  Again, congratulations to Head Coach Sandy Gann, his assistants 
Donnie Redmon, Sonny Gann and John Hughes, scorekeeper Alan Brown, and 
every member of the Northwest Guilford squad. Contributing to the state 
title run were Andrew Angel, Brad Comer, Matt Crayton, Jeff Fisher, 
Eric Freeman, John Gann, Justin Hall, Jamie Hemingway, Eric League, 
Josh McCall, Phillip Nicolette, Justin Smith, Jason Walker, Jeremy 
Walker, and Henry Williams.
  Our district is also home to a tennis champion this year. Western 
Alamance High School defeated Statesville 7-2 in May to win the North 
Carolina boys 2-A tennis title. The championship win culminated a 20-1 
record for the season with the only loss coming to 4-A champion Raleigh 
Broughton High School. Head Coach Barry Sumner has compiled an 
impressive 68-4 record in only three seasons at Western. Coach Sumner 
told the Alamance News that the win reflected a season of hard work and 
dedication. ``The team played real well,'' Coach Sumner told the 
newspaper, ``and the guys composure was good. We're very happy for both 
the school and community.''
  Congratulations to Coach Sumner, his assistant John Dutton, manager 
Bonnie Richardson, and every member of the tennis squad, including 
Brandon Smith, Kevin Kriner, Robert Siletzky, Blair Smith, Richard 
Dutton, Justin Kilpatrick, Bradley Blanks, T.J. Stecker, Matthew 
Walton, Jonathan Walker, and Brian Smith.
  Every sports team needs cheerleaders and the Sixth District of North 
Carolina is home to one of the state's best. The Southwestern Randolph 
High School cheerleaders won the North Carolina 2-A cheerleading title 
in February. This was the seventh time the Cougar cheerleaders have won 
the state championship but it was the first for new Head Coach Jamie 
Hogan. Hogan followed in the footsteps of longtime Southwestern 
Randolph cheerleader Head Coach LuEllen Morgan who was Hogan's 
assistant this year.
  Congratulations to Coaches Hogan and Morgan, and every member of the 
squad, including Darian Walker, Alicia Miller, Sara Knapp, Katie 
Copple, Melissa Foster, Jamie Parrish, Kelly Bryant, Ashley Davis, 
Marie Nance, Danielle Tedder, Jessica Mullis, Casey Swart, and Jenny 
McGaha.
  Finally, the Sixth District was the home this year to an individual 
athlete who won a state championship. Andrew Slack, a junior at 
Ragsdale High School won the state 3-A wrestling title in February. 
Competing among 16 wrestlers in the 130-pound class, Slack captured the 
3-A title in Charlotte.
  Andrew told the Jamestown News, ``I prepare myself to win by working 
hard every day and trying to improve myself every day.'' Slack 
accomplished that goal by winning the state 3-A wrestling championship.
  In fact, that is what epitomizes these talented students from all 
seven schools. All of them worked hard to prepare themselves to win. On 
behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we 
offer our congratulations to outstanding student athletes at Greensboro 
Day, High Point Central, Eastern Randolph, Northwest Guilford, Western 
Alamance, Southwestern Randolph and Ragsdale.




                          ____________________