[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 98 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6585-H6586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA WILDCATS FOR WINNING THE 2007 
                 NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 475) congratulating the University of Arizona 
Wildcats for winning the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division I Softball Championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 475

       Whereas, on June 6, 2007, the University of Arizona 
     Wildcats defeated the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers 
     to win the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     Division I Women's College World Series Softball 
     Championship, their eighth such title since 1991;
       Whereas Wildcats pitcher Taryne Mowatt set a College World 
     Series record for most innings pitched, and was named the 
     Most Valuable Player of the qualifying tournament;
       Whereas Wildcats players Kristie Fox, Jenae Leles, and 
     Caitlin Lowe were selected for the all-tournament team;
       Whereas the Wildcats, after beginning the 2007 season with 
     a losing record, completed the season with a 50-14-1 record; 
     and
       Whereas Wildcats coach Mike Candrea has taken the Wildcats 
     to the College World Series 19 times in the last 20 years, 
     winning eight College World Series titles: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the University of Arizona Wildcats on 
     their victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     2007 Division I Women's College World Series Softball 
     Championship; and
       (2) recognizes and commends the efforts of the University 
     of Arizona Wildcats players, coaches, and support staff in 
     achieving their victory.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative 
days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
University of Arizona Women's Softball Team on their eighth national 
championship. The Wildcats won their title June 6, 2007, giving them 
back-to-back championships over the University of Tennessee Lady 
Volunteers.
  The road to the championship was not easy for the Wildcats. The 
Wildcats climbed out of the loser's bracket turning the tournament to 
face off in the best of three championship series against the Lady 
Volunteers of Tennessee. After losing the opener of the series, the 
Wildcats won the second game 1-0. The final game of the series was the 
most-viewed women's college game on television and was played in front 
of a sold-out audience. The game was 0-0 until the fifth inning, when 
the Wildcats scored five runs. Ms. Mowatt, the pitcher, continued to 
pitch a no-hitter, leading the Wildcats to their second title in a row.
  For those of us that are alumni and have the pleasure of living in 
the community where the Wildcats Women's Softball Team has brought us 
great honor and prestige, know that the effort and the victories are 
due to great team effort. It's about teamwork, but there are 
individuals that must be acknowledged, and it begins with the head 
coach, Coach Candrea, who has taken the team to every one of their 
championship titles, in addition to leading the United States team to a 
Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics.
  Acknowledgment has to be extended to the pitcher, Ms. Mowatt, who 
threw 1,035 pitches in eight games in 7 days, setting a new women's 
college record for pitching 60 innings.
  The members of the team that were selected to the all-tournament team 
due to their performance were the shortstop, Ms. Fox; third basewoman, 
Ms. Leles; and second basewoman, Ms. Lowe.
  In addition to the team and support staff, I would like to recognize 
the endless support of family, friends and fans who give to the 
university and support the university throughout the whole season. The 
victory for U of A Wildcats Women's Softball Team is celebrated 
throughout my district and by Wildcat alumni across the world.
  But I think their victory is more than a championship title. It is a 
testament of the ability of women and the need and the importance of 
the continued investment in title IX. The victory

[[Page H6586]]

reminds us of that importance every time that a women's team at a 
collegiate level is as successful as the University of Arizona Wildcats 
and other teams.
  My congratulations to the University of Arizona Women's Softball Team 
for their great victory, for the honor that they bring the State, and 
for the honor that they bring women athletics across this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 475, 
congratulating the University of Arizona Women's Softball Team for 
winning the 2007 NCAA Division Women's College World Series 
Championship.
  On June 6 of this year, the University of Arizona Wildcats Women's 
Softball Team defeated a very strong and successful University of 
Tennessee Lady Volunteers Team by a score of 5-0 to win the three-game 
series 2-1 and capture the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic 
Association Division I Women's Softball Championship.
  This is Arizona's second consecutive title. Much of the team's 
success is due to its coach, Mike Candrea. Over the last 21 seasons, he 
has compiled a record of 1,131 victories, only 228 defeats and two 
ties; however, you have a tie in the softball game. He has won 18 Coach 
of the Year awards and is an inductee in the National Fastpitch Coaches 
Association Hall of Fame.
  In his career as a Wildcat coach, he has taken the team to the 
College World Series 19 times and has won eight College World Series 
titles. During the 2007 season, the Wildcats compiled an impressive 
record of 50 wins, 14 losses and only 1 tie.

                              {time}  1430

  The junior, Taryne Mowatt, the 2007 World Series MVP, set a record 
for the most pitches thrown in the College World Series by throwing 
1,000 pitches in a week, pitching every inning of the tournament for 
the Wildcats. This season she compiled a record of 42 wins and 12 
losses.
  The University of Arizona should be recognized as an outstanding 
academic institution as well. Now in its second century of service to 
the State, the University of Arizona has become one of the Nation's top 
20 public research institutions. It is one of only 62 members in the 
Association of American Universities, a prestigious organization that 
recognizes universities with exceptionally strong research and academic 
programs. With a world-class faculty in fields as diverse as astronomy, 
plant science, biomedical science, business, law, music and dance, the 
University of Arizona offers a rewarding educational experience to all 
of its students.
  I extend my congratulations to the University's president, Robert 
Shelton, the athletic director, Jim Livengood, head coach Mike Candrea 
and his staff, all of the hardworking players, the fans and to the 
University of Arizona. I am happy to join my friend and colleague, 
Representative Grijalva, in honoring this exceptional team and all of 
its accomplishments and wish all involved continued success.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other speakers on the 
subject. And I would like to acknowledge the comments, and I'm very 
appreciative of the comments of Mr. Bishop.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield as much time 
as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I won't take much time. I'll be very brief.
  I just wanted to come over here and congratulate my colleague, 
Congressman Grijalva, and especially congratulate his women's softball 
team from the University of Arizona. They proved, once again, as they 
have done several times before, that they really have another great 
team. I think this was probably, what, their seventh national 
championship or something like that.
  This was the first time that my Lady Vols softball team had gone as 
far as that team did. The University of Tennessee is my alma matter. 
It's a school of which I am very proud; and it has not only great 
academics, but it also has a very rich athletic heritage and history. 
We've been primarily known for our men's football team and our women's 
basketball, several national championships by both of those programs. 
But the Lady Vols softball team this year was one of the greatest 
sports teams in the history of the University of Tennessee. And, in 
fact, our great pitcher, Monica Abbott, won more games than any pitcher 
in women's collegiate softball history. And probably no athlete in the 
history of the University of Tennessee has ever dominated a sport like 
Monica Abbott.
  So once again I want to say congratulations to my Lady Vols, my 
Tennessee Lady Vols softball team. But I'm here today to especially 
offer congratulations to a great women's softball team from the 
University of Arizona. They won another national championship, and it 
was a well-deserved championship because they had to fight very hard to 
get it, and I just wanted to come and say congratulations at this time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Tennessee 
(Mr. Duncan), and just indicate to him that both teams presented 
themselves, not only athletically, but as fine sportsmanship, fine 
athletes and fine universities. And I appreciate his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, this resolution may deal with the 
University of Arizona Wildcats, but it obviously honors all people, all 
ladies who were involved in softball athletics this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 475.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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