[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE REPUBLIC 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 young ladies 
of the Republic Lady Tigers Basketball Team for winning the Missouri 
Class 4 State Championship.
  The Lady Tigers had some up and down moments in their championship 
run, but were able to rely upon each other to persevere. These talented 
young women, Brooke Dutton, Alice Heinzler, Alex Botkin, Alexis 
Edwards, Sarah Kreul, Kayla Bartelsmeyer, Baylee Rayl, Micah Mansker, 
Mercedes Doty, Taylor Wells, Kailey Mathis, Lindsey Carlson, and Tori 
Taylor are the true definition of a team. Through their hard work and 
dedication they won the Missouri Class 4 State Championship.
  They were outstandingly guided by Coach Kris Flood and his talented 
coaching staff, Tori Mooneyham and Curt Plotter, whom I commend on an 
amazing accomplishment and a job well done.
  The Republic Basketball team had tremendous support throughout their 
season; their friends, family, and fans attended the tournaments, 
cheered them on throughout the basketball season and followed them to 
Columbia for the state championships. Uniquely, many of the excited 
fans would dress up in costumes, like superheroes and whoopee cushions, 
for their title run.
  The Republic community is justifiably proud of the extraordinary 
group of young future leaders on the Republic Lady Tigers Basketball 
Team, but even more important, the young ladies of the Republic 
Basketball team will have memories to last a lifetime. They've had the 
extraordinarily opportunity to live the dream of defying the odds and 
achieving victory through greatness.
  This is third time that the Republic Lady Tigers have won the state 
championship.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Republic Ladies 
Basketball Team, the Missouri Class 4 State Champions.

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