[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 148 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S YOUNG ATHLETES

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the tremendous 
accomplishment of a number of young American athletes. Specifically, I 
want to bring to the attention of the United States Senate the 
accomplishment of the 1998 United States All-Star High School Junior 
National Ultimate Frisbee Team at the recently completed Ultimate 
Frisbee World Championship Tournament.
  Mr. President, High School Ultimate Frisbee, or ``Ultimate,'' players 
from all over our great land competed for positions on the U.S. team. 
Competition was fierce and the United States fielded a team of nineteen 
young men and one young woman at the tournament which was played at the 
beautiful National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota at the end of 
August. Blaine is a suburb on the northern edge of the Twin Cities.
  ``Ultimate'' is a fast growing, noncontact, sport. It resembles the 
fast-paced action of soccer and the thrill of American football. First 
developed at Columbia High School in Mapelwood, NJ, in 1968, Ultimate 
Frisbee is now played around the world. Teams representing many 
nations, including Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and Sweden, came to 
the World Championships. I must note for the Record, Mr. President, 
that the junior World Championships have been dominated by Sweden. The 
Swedish team entered the 1998 World Championships with a string of 
World Championships dating back to 1983, interrupted only by the 1992 
tournament victory of Taiwan, ROC. In light of their impressive record, 
Sweden understandably was seeded first, Germany second, the U.S. third. 
Yes, Mr. President, our team entered the world tournament as an 
underdog. This was particularly apt in light of the fact that several 
of the teams had not only practiced together, but had also played 
together in numerous other tournaments. In fact, several of the 
competing teams were even sponsored by their governments. Not so for 
Team USA! Our American ambassadors bought their own uniforms, paid 
their own ways to Minnesota and covered the expenses associated with 
two weeks at the National Sports Center. Even our coaches had to 
volunteer!
  I am pleased to report that not only did the American team represent 
our Nation with a great deal of enthusiasm, but they also quickly 
coalesced into a real team. This was essential. With less than a week 
of practices under its belt, the U.S. team, which had never played 
together before, would face the stiffest Ultimate Frisbee competition 
in the world.
  To make a long story short, Mr. President, the U.S. Team proceeded 
through the first round (10 games) of the tournament undefeated, 
handing defending Champs Sweden their first two defeats in 6 years and 
soundly defeating all other competitors, including second seed Germany. 
Going into the semifinals, Team USA emerged as the decided favorite. It 
then decisively defeated Great Britain in the semifinal. On Saturday, 
August 22, in a game begun in a driving rain storm, Team USA won the 
championship game against defending Champion Sweden. Yes, Mr. 
President, the U.S. team prevailed. The U.S. All-Star High School 
Ultimate Frisbee Team won the gold meal.
  Suffice it to say, we celebrate the great athleticism and victories 
of these young American athletes. We also have good cause to be proud 
of their great spirit as well. Spirit is very highly prized in 
``Ultimate,'' which does not field referees. To its credit, in 
``Ultimate,'' great spirit is often as prized as a great victory. In 
this effort, our young American athletes demonstrated that good spirit 
and good play are wholly compatible.
  Mr. President, I rise to commend the members of the U.S. Junior 
National Team. Let me name each of the players and their home towns: 
Harper Alexander of Atlanta, Georgia; Jody Avirgan of Silver Spring, 
Maryland; Philip Burkhardt of Seattle, Washington; Sam Chatterton-
Kirchmeier of Seattle, Washington; Jeremy Cram of Seattle, Washington; 
Bryan Edwards of Seattle, Washington; Jules Hirschkorn of Amherst, 
Massachusetts; Pauline Lauterbach of Atlanta, Georgia; Zach Morrison of 
Newton, Massachusetts; Kyle Neeson of West Newton, Massachusetts; Josh 
Nugent of Amherst, Massachusetts; Sam O'Brien of St. Paul, Minnesota; 
Isaiah Robinson of Leverett, Massachusetts; Brian Rogers of Amherst, 
Massachusetts; Jeremy Schwartz of Scarsdale, New York; Matt Shamey of 
Leverett, Massachusetts; Michael Shiel of Chicago, Illinois; Jason 
Simpson of Decatur, Georgia; Ben Van Heuvelen of Bethesda, Maryland; 
and Garrett Westlake of Nashville, Tennessee. These are truly world 
class athletes deserving of recognition.
  Team USA was led to victory by an impressive world class coaching 
staff. The Head Coach, Tiina Booth, has created and nurtured the 
Ultimate Frisbee program at Amherst Regional High School in Amherst, 
Massachusetts. Her Assistant Coaches were Dave ``Mo'' Moscoe of Boulder 
Creek, California, and Mike Baccarini, who coaches the Ultimate Frisbee 
Teams of Paideia High School near Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. President, I 
want to commend the coaches as well for their inspiration, hard work 
and tremendous contribution to the effort.
  In short, Mr. President, please join me in congratulating the members 
and coaches of the U.S. Junior National Ultimate Frisbee Team on their 
victory. We are proud of you and the Gold Medals you have won for our 
country!

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