[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE SPEARFISH SPARTANS ARE THE 2002 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE MEN'S ``A'' 
                          BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate the Spearfish Spartans. The Spartans, under second-year 
coach Dan Martin, won the South Dakota State ``AA'' Basketball 
Tournament March 16 in Rapid City, SD.
  Coach Martin's squad went through the 2001-2002 season with only one 
loss, a double-overtime setback to Gillette, WY, a squad that went on 
to win its own State title. The Spartans entered the State tournament 
with an impressive 20-1 mark and defeated Rapid City Central and 
Watertown before rallying in the final exciting minutes to overtake 
Sioux Falls Lincoln, 65-61, for the State title. It was the Spartans' 
first-ever State basketball championship and the first Class ``AA'' 
title for a team west of the Missouri River since 1989.
  The team was guided this season by the senior leadership provided by 
Deming Haugland, Aaron Croff, Slade Larscheid and Timm Cooper. Haugland 
and Croff were joined by Spartan sophomore Matt Martin on the all-
tournament team and Haugland received the coveted Spirit of Su Award, 
for his sportsmanship and actions both on and off the basketball court.
  As Coach Martin told ``The Black Hills Pioneer'' after the title 
victory, ``It was due to a lot of hard work. The boys put a lot of 
blood and sweat into it and they deserve it.'' I want to commend and 
applaud the community of Spearfish for their support of young people. 
This title reflects that community support. I want to acknowledge 
Superintendent David Peters, Principal Dr. Dan Leikvold, Athletic 
Director Karen Hahn, Head Coach Dan Martin, Assistant Coaches Les 
Schroeder, Dick Tschetter and Pete Wilson for their guidance and 
support to help make this year's team so successful. I also want to 
congratulate all of this year's team members: seniors Deming Haugland, 
Aaron Croff, Slade Larscheid and Timm Cooper; juniors Tanner Tetrault, 
Josh Delahoyde, Turner Johnson and Jared Noem; and sophomores Billy 
McDonald, Matt Martin, Josh Stadler, Derek Bertsch and Scott Betten, 
for their hard work, dedication and commitment this season. Finally, I 
want to acknowledge the great work of team managers Eric Skavang, Wally 
Byrne, Rachel Brady and Katie Goodnough, and the hard-working efforts 
of cheerleaders Terra Ketchum, Sarah Hanna, Amber Orce and Angie Koski.
  Again, congratulations to the Spearfish Spartans on winning their 
first State basketball championship! j

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