[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 45 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E503-E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING CLOUD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 30, 2001

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, March Madness means many things to 
many people. In the quest for college basketball's holy grail, March 
represents the time when champions are crowned in all divisions. This 
week, I am proud to congratulate the Cloud County Community College 
women's basketball team from Concordia, Kansas. This past Saturday, the 
lady Thunderbirds won the National Junior College Athletic Association 
national title.
  For this team, this program, and this community, the championship is 
indeed a great honor. At times, it is easy to get wrapped up in all of 
the hype surrounding college athletics, but I think Cloud County coach, 
Brett Erkenbrack, said it best: ``Great team, a tremendous bunch of 
young ladies, and a great crowd.''

[[Page E504]]

  Cloud County is the first Kansas team to win the women's title in the 
27 year history of the NJCAA tournament. The team includes three 
players selected to the All-Tournament Team, including Paulette 
Valentine, N'Keisa Richardson, and the tournament Most Valuable Player, 
Miklannet Tennal.
  The talented players on Coach Erkenbrack's team fought a difficult 
road on the way to earning the National title, defeating the number 5 
and number 1 seeds, as well as enduring an overtime victory in the 
semifinals.
  The Concordia community also rallied around their home team. 
Attendance at the championship game was the biggest of the tournament 
and beat last year's mark by over 25%. This is a story of teamwork, 
preparation, and hard work, combined with a supportive community and 
families all pulling together for a championship run. It is a great 
story to tell and a story worth repeating.
  Congratulations again to the Cloud County Women's Basketball team. 
They truly are champions.

                          ____________________