[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CARNEY-NADEAU HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2005

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the players, 
coaches and managers of the 2004 Carney-Nadeau High School Wolves girls 
basketball team in recognition of their outstanding season. The 24-2 
Wolves went to the Michigan Class D semi-finals this year, winning 
Conference, District and Regional titles along the way.
  Carney-Nadeau may be one of the smallest schools in their division, 
and in my district, but they have been a force to be reckoned with in 
the Upper Peninsula and statewide. Their trip to the state semi-finals 
on December 2nd at the Breslin Center in East Lansing continued their 
streak of post season success that started with a State Championship in 
2001. In 2002, they went to the state semi-finals, and to the regional 
finals in 2003.
  This tradition of excellence motivated the team all season long. But 
it is a tradition that has deep roots in this small but close-knit 
Upper Peninsula community. The basketball program is supported by 
fundraisers run by the players, and the community turns out to 
demonstrate that the team is important to them, and that they share the 
young women's pride in their on-court and off-court successes. It also 
gives them a real sense of ownership of the team and their community.
  This support is not surprising when you know that Carney-Nadeau 
Public Schools is a district with grades K-12 in one building, giving 
it a family atmosphere where the older students, and especially the 
athletes, provide strong role-models for the younger ones. This sense 
of family is perhaps best represented by the team meals that the 
players' families take turns preparing before each game.
  It is hard to talk about the Carney-Nadeau Wolves success this year 
without mentioning All-State senior Carly Benson. The 6-foot-2 center 
averaged 22.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.1 blocks, 5.1 steals and 4.8 
assists and shot 62 percent this year on her way to being named the 
Class D Player of the Year. But on this team, all the players are 
leaders, and the team captain role rotated each game.
  Mr. Speaker, each of these players deserves to be recognized, along 
with the coaches, managers, and school officials that were instrumental 
to their success, and I want to take a moment to share their names with 
my colleagues.
  Team members: Katee Retaskie, Amanda Poupore, Lacey Retaskie, Meghan 
Schetter, Carly Benson, Jenny Grabowski, Rachel Kuntze, Roseann 
Schetter, Laurie Tuinstra, Ashley Folcik, Tarra Moran, and Meghan 
Marsicek.
  Head Coach Paul Polfus, who is 482-120 in 25 years of coaching at 
Carney-Nadeau; Assistant Coaches Randy Severinsen, and Jon Ray; Trainer 
Marty Laurila; Managers Matt Polfus, Cory Thiry, Pete Adams, and Jared 
Benson; Athletic Director Ron Solberg; and Superintendent/Principal Ken 
Linder.
  While their loss to Portland St. Patrick High School was 
disappointing, I know the Carney-Nadeau Wolves are rightly proud of 
their outstanding season, and all of the hard work, love, 
determination, perseverance, optimism, and skill they put in to it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating the Carney-Nadeau girls basketball team, their 
classmates, parents, and community on their success in the 2004 season 
and in wishing them well when they hit the court again in the fall.

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