[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE HIGHLAND PARK'S TEAM TENNIS FOR WINNING ITS THIRD 
      STRAIGHT TEXAS CLASS 4A DIVISION I HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP

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                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Highland 
Park Scots Tennis Team for winning its third straight State 
Championship. On Saturday, November 5th, the Scots defeated New 
Braunfels High School 10-3 for the title.
  This program and its coach have shown an incredible amount of 
character since losing to San Antonio Alamo Heights in the 2002 state 
finals. They have not lost a single match since then, winning a state 
record seventy straight team matches.
  The team of twenty-five varsity players (thirteen boys and twelve 
girls) is so filled with talent that Head Coach Dan Holden had reserve 
players who are nationally ranked on the sidelines, a testament to the 
depth of this team. Coach Holden has not only prepared his players for 
the championship match, however; he has also helped them to seek higher 
education. This two-pronged approach to coaching is what Coach Holden 
calls his ``Win-Win'' strategy. He kept practices shorter than normal 
so that the players could have time to work with their personal coaches 
to improve their abilities for U.S. Tennis Association Tournaments. 
These tournaments provide excellent recruiting opportunities for 
college scouts, in turn providing the exposure necessary for the 
players to impress scouts in the hopes of earning a college 
scholarship.
  Proof of his success is evident. For example, Tyler Taransky, a 
senior at Highland Park, came back to Highland Park for his last year 
after a brief foray into the world of full-time competitive tennis and 
home schooling. As a result, he helped to lead his team to victory one 
last time before enrolling at Texas A&M, where he will play tennis next 
fall for the Aggies.
  For his efforts, the United States Professional Tennis Association 
named Coach Holden the 2004 National High School Coach of the Year. He 
was also honored as the Dallas Morning News' 2004 All-Area Tennis Coach 
of the Year.
  In closing, I would like to congratulate Coach Dan Holden and the 
Highland Park Scots' Team Tennis on their outstanding achievement. 
Their competitive spirit and domination in their field are truly 
inspirational.

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