[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H4650-H4652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING KENYON COLLEGE LADIES SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM FOR
WINNING 2004 NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 634) congratulating the Kenyon College Ladies
swimming and diving team for winning the 2004 National Collegiate
Athletic Association Division III Women's Swimming and Diving National
Championship.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 634
Whereas on March 13, 2004, the Kenyon College Ladies
swimming and diving team won the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Division III Women's Swimming and Diving
National Championship for the 20th time with a score of 506
points;
Whereas the Ladies won 10 of the 20 championship events,
including all five relay events for the second straight
season;
Whereas Head Coach Jim Steen has won 41 NCAA Division III
Swimming and Diving National Championships as coach of both
the men's and women's swimming and diving teams at Kenyon
College;
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Whereas the dedication of each swimmer, diver, coach,
trainer, and manager of the Ladies allowed the swimming and
diving team to reach the pinnacle of team achievement;
Whereas the students, alumni, and faculty of Kenyon College
and other supporters of Kenyon College swimming and diving
are to be congratulated for their commitment and pride in the
Kenyon College swimming and diving program; and
Whereas the 20 national titles won by the Ladies are the
most by any women's athletic program in any division of the
NCAA and makes the Ladies swimming and diving team the most
successful sports program in women's collegiate athletics
history: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the Kenyon College Ladies swimming and
diving team for winning the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic
Association Division III Women's Swimming and Diving National
Championship;
(2) recognizes the achievements of all the swimmers,
divers, coaches, trainers, and managers who were instrumental
in helping the Kenyon College Ladies win the 2004 NCAA
Division III Women's Swimming and Diving National
Championship; and
(3) recognizes the 20 NCAA Division III national
championships won by the Kenyon College Ladies swimming and
diving team as an accomplishment unparalleled in any sport in
the history of women's collegiate athletics.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Tiberi) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi).
General Leave
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 634.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in support of House
Resolution 634. I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Ney), for bringing this resolution forward today. This resolution
honors Kenyon College Ladies swimming and diving team for winning the
2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women's
Swimming and Diving National Championship.
Today we recognize this team and the first-class athletic program at
Kenyon College. Since its inaugural season in 1975-1976, the Ladies
swimming and diving team has developed into a national powerhouse and
has been the dominant force in Division III. Dating back to the 1983-
1984 season, the Ladies have captured 20 out of 21 NCAA national
championships contested. From 1984 through 2000, the Ladies won 17
straight national championships, the second-longest national
championship streak in the history of the NCAA, including all sports
and all divisions.
This past season, the Ladies nailed down their twentieth national
title in St. Peters, Missouri. The women won 10 of the 20 events, set
two NCAA records, and posted a winning team total of 507 points. No
other women's program, Mr. Speaker, in the history of the NCAA has had
as many team titles as the Kenyon College Ladies Swimming and Diving
programs.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 634, a resolution
congratulating the Kenyon College Ladies Swimming and Diving Team for
winning the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III
Women's Swimming and Diving National Championship.
In March, the Kenyon Ladies captured the national championship for a
record 20th time in just 21 years. The Ladies' record 20th national
championship came a month after placing second to Denison University at
the North Coast Athletic Conference, NCAC, championships in mid-
February.
I want to extend my congratulations to head coach Jim Steen, who has
a remarkable record. Coach Steen has won a combined 41 NCAA titles with
both the Lords and Ladies swimming and diving teams at Kenyon over the
past 28 years. Seven former Kenyon swimmers are now college head
coaches, while nine others are assistants. Since Steen's arrival in
1976, more than 300 Kenyon swimmers and divers have become all-
Americans.
I also want to congratulate team standouts Beth Galloway for winning
the 100-yard back stroke and setting a new NCAA record in this event
and Agnese Ozolina, who captured first place in the 200-yard individual
medley. Together, these two seniors hold 23 national titles.
I also want to extend my congratulations, Mr. Speaker, to Denison and
Emory universities, who won second and third place in the final overall
team standings this year. Winning the championship has cemented Kenyon
University's place among collegiate sports dynasties.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Ney), whose district Kenyon is in.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), for yielding me this time. He is a neighbor of
ours. I have the Knox County area, and we share Licking County. So I
want to thank him for carrying this. I also want to thank, obviously,
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner). The gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Woolsey) who is here today, I want to thank the gentlewoman for
helping with this resolution on the floor.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Owen Beetham of our staff,
who is a graduate of Kenyon College who happened to prepare this
resolution, so it is kind of Kenyon College Day.
But right now, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I introduce
this resolution congratulating the Kenyon College Ladies swimming and
diving team for claiming the 2004 NCAA Division III swimming and diving
national championship. They captured it by scoring an impressive 506 in
points.
The win was particularly impressive due to the fact that the team
roster was limited this year. In past years, the Ladies swam to the
title with a full or nearly full championship roster of 18 swimmers.
This year, however, the Kenyon team had a roster of 14 swimmers and
still managed to post a winning point total.
{time} 1015
Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that winning a national athletics
championship is a tremendous accomplishment, but for these young
ladies, this year's championship marks something more. It was the 20th
time the Kenyon Ladies returned from the NCAA national championship
victorious.
I think it is also important to take a moment to recognize Jim Steen,
who is in his 28th year as the head coach of the Kenyon Swimming and
Diving Program. Coach Steen's consistent and innovative contributions
have produced unparalleled results: 300 men and women, All-America
swimmers who have together earned nearly 2,500 All-America awards since
his arrival on campus in 1976. His teams have won more NCAA events and
set more national records than any other school in history.
But Coach Steen is perhaps even more proud of the fact that his
swimmers have compiled a record number of athletic postgraduate
scholarship awards. In fact, many of the swimmers exemplify something
that is often overlooked in college athletics: the importance of being
both hard-working athletes and strong academics. At Kenyon, swimming,
like academics, is something one does because one wants to do it, not
because one has to do it. They like the challenge and enjoy the rewards
of their hard work.
I think it is safe to say Kenyon's reputation as one of the top
swimming programs in the country nicely complements the fact that it is
one of the elite schools of higher education in the United States
because of the students and their desire to have an education and
acquire an education. That marriage of athletics and academics, of hard
work and strong intellect is what makes Kenyon College a remarkable
place for swimmers and students alike.
We should all be proud of the accomplishments of the Kenyon Ladies
swimming and diving team. The Ladies have shown us the real definition
of what it is to be champions. Their hard work, dedication and desire
will preserve their place in the history of collegiate athletics as the
most successful women's athletics program in any division.
I could not be more pleased to represent the Ladies here today. I
could
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not be more pleased to represent Kenyon College in the Eighteenth
District of Ohio.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Again, it is a pleasure for me to be here to honor the Kenyon College
Ladies, a distinction earned by the student athletes. The remarkable
repeat victories of the team reflect the dedication of each athlete,
the leadership of Coach Steen, supportive family and friends and fans.
I extend my congratulations to each of the hard-working competitors
on the swimming and diving team, to Coach Steen, and to Kenyon College.
I am happy to join with my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Ney), my neighbor in Ohio, and all my colleagues in honoring the
accomplishments of this team and wish them continued success.
Once again, I strongly support House Resolution 634 and ask my
colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 634.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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