[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 56 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 2006 STATE CHAMPION BOLINGBROOK HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VARSITY 
                            BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to congratulate the Bolingbrook High School Girls' Varsity 
Basketball Team on capturing the 2006 Illinois Class AA Girls' 
Basketball State Championship.
  On March 4, 2006, the Bolingbrook Raiders beat the Althoff High 
School Crusaders 45-34 in the state championship game. Not only did 
this give the Bolingbrook Girls' Varsity Basketball team its first 
state championship, but it provided Bolingbrook High School with its 
first ever state championship in any sport.
  It's not often that Congress passes a law that makes a big difference 
in the lives of young people--especially in the lives of young girls. 
But that's exactly what happened in 1972, when Title IX was enacted, 
allowing girls and young women to participate in sports just like the 
boys and young men.
  When many of my colleagues and I were in high school, girls were only 
allowed to play half court basketball. Why did they only let us play on 
half of the court? Well, they thought we were too weak and delicate and 
that running across the full court might exhaust us or affect our 
health.
  As they say, we've come a long way, and the Bolingbrook High School 
Girls' Varsity Basketball Team is a great example of that. Not only are 
they excellent basketball players, but I'm sure that they could teach 
many young men a thing or two about the sport.
  Today, our hats are off to the Bolingbrook Raiders for their great 
athleticism, team spirit, hard work, dedication, and the example they 
set for girls and women everywhere.
  Once again, congratulations to girls of the Bolingbrook High School 
Varsity Basketball Team on winning the Illinois state championship. We 
wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________