[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE 2006 CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2006 Crystal Falls 
Forest Park High School Trojans. This high school football team has 
made the entire Upper Peninsula (U.P.) community proud by once again 
beating the odds and advancing to the Division 8 State Finals game at 
Ford Field in Detroit.
  This was the third straight year that the Crystal Falls Forest Park 
Trojans advanced to the Division 8 state high school football 
championship game. These players, their coaches and the entire Crystal 
Falls Forest Park community should be commended for representing the 
U.P. at Michigan's state football championship.
  In many ways, the Trojans' advancement to the state finals again this 
year was a classic Cinderella story. Some ``inside'' football experts 
had predicted that 2006 would be a rebuilding year for the Trojans, as 
this year's roster included only 2 seniors. However, what the Trojans 
lacked in size and experience, they made up for with dedication, heart 
and teamwork. These 34 young men brought an unselfish attitude to the 
game that many college and professional players could learn from.
  The team's moment of truth for this year's season came on October 13, 
when they played Bessemer High School. The shorthanded Trojans suffered 
a 14-6 loss, dropping their record to 6-2 for the season and 
jeopardizing their chances at the playoffs. While many teams might 
allow a dispiriting loss such as this to derail their playoff 
ambitions, the Trojans came together as a team to overcome this 
challenge and rally in the face of adversity. The Trojans followed 
their setback in Bessemer with 5 straight wins, including 4 in the 
postseason.
  Assistant Coach Dave Graff summed up the winning attitude of this 
year's Trojans when he said, ``We might not be the best team, but we're 
good enough to get where we're going. They believe in themselves and 
anything is possible.''
  The community of Crystal Falls Forest Park and the U.P. truly united 
behind the Trojans, giving 110 percent of their support. Some of the 
supporters of the team traveled a long distance--in a short period--to 
cheer on their team. Crystal Falls Forest Park fans loaded up three 
buses at the high school at 10:00 p.m. Thanksgiving night and trekked 
more than 500 miles, arriving at Ford Field at 7:30 a.m. the Friday 
morning of the game. That gave the fans just a few hours to stretch 
before the 10 a.m. kickoff!
  Mr. Speaker, each member of this team deserves to be recognized and I 
want to take a moment to share their names: Fred Hubbard; Jim Freeman; 
Dustin Basirico; Bob Reid; Zach Sawyer; Kyle Roberts; Justin James; 
Calix Sholander; John Grandahl; Levi Oleksy; Kyle LaVacque; Tony 
Grandahl; Andrew Bortolini; Matt Sundquist; Bryan LaChapelle; Erik 
Peterson; Josh Siler; Tim Wheeler; Ethan Uren; Justin Process; Jim 
Wheeler; Tony Renner; Marcus Smithson; Kevin Takala; Chris McCarthy; 
William Bortolini; Bill Fennick; Travis Hoenig; Bill Paige; Ed Zarn; 
Paige Armstrong; Pat Bredy; Ben Shuck; Jake Jacobson; Jeff Sartori; and 
Andrew Gussert.
  I would be remiss if I did not also salute the Trojans' talented 
coaching staff. Head Coach Bill Santilli and Assistant Coaches Dave 
Graff, Gerard Valesano, Gene Giuliani, Jeff Chernach and Dan LaPoint 
should all be commended for helping lead the Crystal Falls Forest Park 
Trojans to a third state championship game. Managers L.J. Burns, Dan 
Ballo-Shuck and Lee Graff should also be recognized for their 
contributions, as should their trainer, Mark Nylund. Together, this 
talented coaching staff shepherded this year's young team to the state 
finals.
  Mr. Speaker, the Crystal Falls Forest Park football team knew what 
the late, great Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi always said, 
``Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.'' The Trojan team 
wanted to win more than the so-called ``inside'' football experts 
predicted!
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans football team, 
their classmates, parents and the community on their exceptional season 
and in wishing the Trojans well when they retake the field for the 2007 
season.

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