[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE SOLDAN HIGH SCHOOL TIGERS, WINNERS OF THE MISSOURI 
         CLASS 4 STATE TITLE FOR BASKETBALL AND STATE CHAMPIONS

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                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2012

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Missouri's own 
Class 4 State Basketball Champions, the Soldan High School Tigers.
  Soldan High School's convincing 55 42 victory over Springfield 
Hillcrest at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia was the culmination of three 
years hard work and dedication, resulting in the Tiger's first state 
championship in basketball in 31 years. Under the leadership of Head 
Coach Justin Tatum, the Tigers defeated some of the best teams in the 
nation, outscoring their playoff opponents by an unbelievable average 
of 24 points a game.
  The men of the Soldan High School Tigers are more than merely 
teammates, they are a band of brothers. Many of the Tigers have played 
on the same teams since grade school, their recent victory a fitting 
reward for years of dedication to both each other and the sport of 
basketball. Especially for Soldan's nine-man senior class of Devin 
Booker, Aaron Diamini, Kawan Griffin, Randy Holmes, Paul McRoberts, 
Jibreel Muhammad, Partice Sanders, Elva Shelton, and Rashad Simmons, 
the season, and their high school careers, ended exactly how they hoped 
they would.
  Mr. Speaker, Coach Tatum and the men of the Soldan High School Tigers 
are true examples of character and sportsmanship, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring their remarkable achievement.

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