[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE MOUNT VERNON GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the girls of the 
Mount Vernon Lady Mountaineers Basketball Team for winning the Missouri 
Class 3 State Championship.
  Basketball is a sport that challenges the human spirit and tests the 
mental and physical abilities of the players. These girls, Amelia 
Bramer, Sally Cowherd, Danielle Goodman, Madison Hadlock, Jenna Kleine, 
Tamiaya Henderson, Audrey LaSalle, Blair Tettenhorst, Shailyn Benbrook, 
Mackenzie Farmer, Kaylee Hood, Megan Pope, and Shea Vandergrift, faced 
those challenges and as a result became a team. They trained as one, 
they competed as one, and together though their hard work and 
dedication they won the Missouri Class 3 State Championship.
  Of course, the basketball players aren't the only champions; they had 
an outstanding team of talented coaches supporting them and guiding 
them along the way. I commend Head Coach Doug Hepler and assistant 
coaches Bridgett Schmutz, and Tom Cox, on an amazing accomplishment and 
a job well done.
  The Lady Mountaineers team had an edge against each and every one of 
their opponents; their friends, family, and fans attended the games, 
cheered them on throughout the basketball season and followed them to 
Columbia for the state championships. The Mount Vernon community is 
justifiably proud of their team, and the team is fortunate to have such 
strong support from their community.
  As if winning a state championship isn't enough of an accomplishment, 
the Mount Vernon Lady Mountaineers Team has the distinct honor of 
winning it two of the last three years. This shows that our athletes 
and coaches in Mount Vernon are among the best in America and can stand 
proud in their accomplishments.
  But even more important than that, the girls of the Mount Vernon 
Basketball team will have memories to last a lifetime. They've had that 
extraordinarily opportunity to live the dream of anyone who has ever 
dreamed of competing with the best and achieving victory.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Mount Vernon 
Lady Mountaineers Basketball Team, the Missouri Class 3 State 
Champions.

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