[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;

[[Page H4651]]

       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

[[Page H4652]]

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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