[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               LOYOLA SACRED HEART SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of a remarkable group of young people from my beautiful 
state of Montana. On January 29, 2005 the Loyola Sacred Heart High 
School speech and debate team won its 22nd state championship in a row 
for Class B competition. This victory extends the longest series of 
state championships ever in Montana.
  Early on a crisp Saturday morning, while other kids their age were 
sleeping, students from 72 high schools from every corner of Montana 
met in Corvallis to compete in the A-B-C State Tournament. They 
competed in 7 speech events--Memorized Public Address, Original 
Oratory, Expository Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous 
Speaking, Serious Oral Interpretation of Literature, and Humorous Oral 
Interpretation of Literature--and 2 debate events--Policy Debate and 
Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
  This year, Loyola earned its 22nd consecutive state title by a margin 
of 80 points. Two students, Sarah Stergios and Rebecca Natelson were 
individual State champions, and they were well supported by 13 other 
individual medalists. Such success is not a new thing for Head Coach 
Matt Stergios, who has been with the team since 1981, when the team had 
only four members.
  Since that time, over one thousand students have competed for the 
team; in fact, in 2004, one out of four students at Loyola competed at 
one or more tournaments. The team has generated 31 individual state 
champions, and over 200 medalists. Since the streak began, Loyola has 
won over 200 individual tournament titles. The building that the 
students attend classes in is not large enough to hold all of the 
trophies, so some of them have to be stored next door.
  But Loyola Sacred Heart High School is not just known for its speech 
and debate team. While I was in the Marines I learned that it's 
important to hone the mind as well as the body. Well, every year, 
students from Loyola rank at the top of the state in test scores. 
Ninety percent of students who graduate from Loyola go to college. On 
Advanced Placement exams Loyola students score 25 percent higher than 
the national average. Loyola boasts 13 Hearst Foundation Senate Youth 
Awards, and a Senate Page. And Loyola is as successful with feats of 
the body as it is with feats of the mind. The boys cross country team 
has won six straight State titles, and the girls cross country team has 
won state titles in the last 2 years. The Loyola Fighting Ram football 
team made state quarterfinals this year, and both the girls basketball 
and volleyball teams won their Division. The girls track team was 
second in the State last year after both the boys and girls teams swept 
District and Divisional competition. Two years ago, the girls softball 
team won the state title and placed fourth this year. Now all of this 
is already quite impressive. But it's even more amazing considering 
that Loyola Sacred Heart High School has only about 200 students.
  I congratulate Loyola Sacred Heart High School for their 22nd 
consecutive State title in speech and debate.
  Loyola Sacred Heart Speech and Debate 38-person Divisional and State 
Team Roster: Frankie Barnhill, Loren Barstad, Adam Benson, Adam 
Bigelow, Brian Bobowiec, Nick Corn, Karra Cuplin, Paul Dalapiazza, 
Miles Dauterive, Jason Devoe, Liz Diehl, Ryne Dougherty, Brian Doyle, 
Sambath Eat, Ben Eddy, Matt Eddy, John Eikens, Dan Evans, Brian Geer, 
Tyler Grutsch, Megan Hess-Homier, Julie Hurd, Ben Kappelman, Tricia 
Karsky, Katie Lawhorn, Matt Lovejoy, Abby Mayer, Keith Miller, Cory 
Monroe, Rebecca Natelson, Dan O'Brien, Joe Sanders, Nadia Selim, Paul 
Stergios, Sarah Stergios, Will Taylor, Lauren Titchbourne, Caroline 
Wade
  Head Coach: Matthew Stergios
  Assistant Coaches: Frank Grady, Sarah Jennings, Dave Klein, Theresa 
Stergios.

                          ____________________