[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 78 (Thursday, June 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE FENNELL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Madam Speaker, in sports today, words like courage and 
character, leadership and perseverance are used so frequently they have 
become almost cliche. Sometimes, though, a story emerges that rekindles 
our faith in the indomitable will of the human spirit, which proves a 
sports figure can embody all those traits and more, and which inspires 
not only a team but an entire community. Such is the case in a story of 
Mike Fennell, coach of the McQuaid Jesuit High School baseball team in 
Rochester, New York.
  One week ago, Mike coached the Knights to their first section v 
baseball championship in 20 years. It was the 250th victory of his 
coaching career, the team's fourth championship game in 5 years, and 
Coach Fennell's first sectional title. Indeed, these accomplishments 
are worthy of note, but they are even more remarkable considering just 
days before the championship game in Rochester's Frontier Field, Mike 
Fennell was in a hospital bed recovering from yet another surgery in 
his valiant crusade against non-smoker's lung cancer.
  Since his diagnosis in November, Mike has faced this disease bravely, 
stubbornly, and even with a good dose of humor. His struggle has been 
so valiant and inspiring that following Mike's hair loss, resulting 
from ongoing chemotherapy, the McQuaid Knights wanted to do something 
special to show their support, love, and respect for their ailing 
coach, and that is when the team, led by pitcher Mike Lewis and catcher 
Paul Knittle, decided to shave their own heads.
  A baseball standout at Fairport High School and Le Moyne College, 
Mike spent several years in the New York Yankee farm clubs, but the 
leadership and inspiration Mike has shown these past few months 
transcend any sport or championship. During the trophy presentation, 
still weak from his chemo treatments, Mike shunned his walker that his 
wife, Erin, and nurse, Patty Messina, wanted him to use to make the 
trek from the dugout to home plate. He would make that walk the same 
way he has faced his disease, through faith, determination, and sheer 
will.
  Mike Fennell has shown each of us how to face adversity, both bravely 
and proudly. He has shown us the strength to endure, even when doctors 
and his own body want him to stop. Most importantly, he has shown us 
there is nothing quite so tenacious and unbreakable as a human spirit.
  Madam Speaker, I ask this Congress to join me in saluting a hero and 
a champion, Coach Mike Fennell.

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