[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E684-E685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THOMASVILLE HIGH SCHOOL--THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2007

  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, many towns, states, schools, conferences, 
or leagues try to lay claim to be the ``home of champions.'' But 
really, can anyone make a better case than Thomasville High School in 
Thomasville, North Carolina? The fact that the mighty Bulldogs reside 
in the Sixth District of North Carolina does nothing to dissuade me 
that Thomasville High School truly deserves to be called the home of 
champions, or perhaps, be renamed Title Town High! Allow me the 
opportunity to make the case for Thomasville High School.

[[Page E685]]

  On March 10, 2007, the Thomasville Bulldogs captured the North 
Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1-A men's basketball 
championship with an 86-76 win over North Edgecombe High School. This 
win was the fifth state basketball championship in the last 10 years. 
On December 9, 2006, Thomasville won its seventh state football title 
with a 13-7 victory over James Kenan High School in the NCHSSA 1-AA 
championship contest. This was the seventh football crown in the 
school's history, the third consecutive state championship, and the 
37th straight win dating back to the 2004 season. So, that is 12 state 
titles from just two sports, football and men's basketball. Space and 
time do not permit us to list all of the titles--such as the men's 
soccer team in 2005 and the women's basketball team in 2004--we could 
go on and on, but for argument's sake, let's stipulate that Thomasville 
High School is truly the home of champions. Permit me a moment to 
detail the two most recent titles in men's basketball and football.
  In the middle of March Madness, the Thomasville men's basketball team 
won the NCHSSA 1-A championship. Thomasville defeated North Edgecombe 
86-76 in a game that saw nine lead changes and seven ties. The win 
capped a remarkable season for the Bulldogs in which they finished 24-2 
and were perfect following back-to-back losses at a tournament in 
December. Head Coach Woody Huneycutt told the Thomasville Times that 
the title win came against a strong opponent. ``I am really proud of 
this group,'' Coach Huneycutt told his hometown newspaper. ``They did a 
heck of a job today. North Edgecombe was an extremely quick, physical, 
hustling team. They put everything I thought they had on the floor, and 
I thought our guys did the same. Of course, we had to, to be 
successful.'' And successful they were thanks to a complete team 
effort.
  Congratulations are in order for Coach Huneycutt and his assistant 
Lacardo Means. In fact, Coach Huneycutt told the Thomasville Times, 
``One of the main reasons we are here and we do as well as we do year 
after year is Lacardo Means. He is very instrumental to us being 
successful.'' Both men will be the first to tell you that most of the 
credit goes to the players on the court. Those who contributed to the 
title run included Donald Sims, Justin Moore, Bud Ray, Jeremy McKiver, 
Alex Perry, Zach Perry, E.J. Abrams-Ward, Evander Davis, Dominique 
Pickett, Trey Ray, Chris Woods, Michael Byrd, and Ari Foust. The team 
was ably assisted by scorekeeper Connie McLendon, statisticians Willie 
Green, Quan Warley and Demajio Lawson, and videographers Quiana Mock 
and Felicia McFadden. Several seniors on the basketball squad also play 
football for Thomasville and they are leaving high school with five 
championship rings.
  On December 9, 2006, the Bulldogs completed a perfect 16-0 season 
with a third consecutive NCHSSA 1-AA football championship. Thomasville 
defeated James Kenan High School 13-7 at aptly-named Kenan Stadium in 
Chapel Hill to cap an incredible run to the crown. Head Coach Benjie 
Brown, who has led the Bulldogs to the three straight titles, told the 
High Point Enterprise at the end of the game that meeting everyone's 
high expectations does take a toll. ``When you get to this point,'' he 
told the newspaper, ``it's so taxing and so tiring, it won't set in for 
a day or two. The emotions and effort that goes into it, the length of 
the season, it's wearing on players and coaches. It'll take a little 
while to really sit back and enjoy it, but I am happy for those kids 
out there.''

  Now that some time has passed, I am sure that Coach Brown is very 
happy and proud of the hard work that went into completing the quest 
for the Bulldogs third straight state football championship. The 
perfect season was thanks in no small part in Coach Brown and his 
assistant coaches Stan Baranowski, Allen Brown, Roger Bryant, Sam 
Captain, Danny Medlin, Matt Pugh, Brandon Staton, Nick Sweitzer, Jaz 
Tate, and Tyler Tobin, along with community coaches Vince Brown, Ed 
Courtney, Kemp Harvey, and Don Osborne.
  The entire roster contributed to Thomasville's latest football 
triumph. Members of the team included: Najee Brown, Jeremy McKiver, 
T.J. Steele, Willie Green, Bradley Watkins, E.J. Abrams-Ward, Justin 
Moore, Chris Woods, Quinton Lindsey, Scott Hines, Quan Warley, Mose 
Jones, Rashad Whitaker, Chris Webber, Brad Wilkes, Bud Ray, Arsenio 
Hudson, Dujuan Ingram, Lawrence Jackson, Heath Stroud, Kirk Yarborough, 
Martez Wilson, Demagio Lawson, Brandon Moss, Jaquane Mouzone, Mark 
Green, Lorenzo Cannon, Logan Barnes, Jerrell Wilson, Marcus Bratton, 
Courtney Henry, Avery Hudson, Ari Foust, Akeim Rainey, Quentin Long, 
Preston Atwood, Tommy Green, Cornelius Davis, Trey Ray, Evander Davis, 
Jameson Donnell, Willie Cannon, and Michael Byrd.
  Those who didn't wear a uniform, but contributed in so many other 
ways can equally share the accolades coming to Thomasville's champions. 
We congratulate trainers Kenny Coker and Byron Lattimore, team doctors 
David Williams and Rob Williams, statistician Barry Tucker, film crew 
members Travis Leanord, Wade Loflin, Casey Medlin, and Adam Oakley, 
middle school head coach Eric Rader, gym maintenance staffer Bill 
Moore, and team managers Ryan Hanner, Luke Williams and Antwon Simon.
  Congratulations to Principal Dick Gurley, Athletic Director Woody 
Huneycutt, the faculty, staff, students, and families of Thomasville 
High School on another outstanding athletic season.
  Madam Speaker, I feel I have made a compelling argument to christen 
Thomasville High School as the ``home of champions.'' Even if others 
disagree with our assessment, I am sure that everyone in the Sixth 
District of North Carolina does agree that the Bulldogs' collection of 
state championships is mighty impressive.

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