[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 50 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR VANDALIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 2013

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, there is a school in the Sixth District of 
North Carolina that just won its third state championship this school 
year. Vandalia Christian School of Greensboro won state titles in 
basketball, soccer and cheerleading. I would like to take this time to 
congratulate all their squads.
  The story of the boys' basketball team from Vandalia Christian School 
is all but ordinary. On February 23, the Vikings capped off the 2013 
season with a 13-point win over Raleigh Christian Academy resulting in 
their first NCCSA Class 2-A championship in 28 years. The road was not 
easily traveled; they lost in the championship game the year before and 
one of their players, Will Zimmerman, was diagnosed with leukemia and 
had to undergo chemotherapy treatments through the rest of 2012. 
Considering the circumstances of making it deep into the playoffs just 
to meet defeat, and the tragic diagnosis of a teammate, you would have 
expected to see a demoralized team the following year. The Vikings, 
however, did the opposite. They turned defeat into a learning 
experience--and the strength of Zimmerman into spirit--and they carried 
his jersey to every game to lay over an empty seat on the bench giving 
them the desire to make a run at the title.
  Lead by Head Coach Tommy Adams and Assistant Luke Adams, their hands 
were full with an incredibly tense game. Raleigh Christian nearly 
overcame a 20-point deficit despite having one of its senior players go 
down with an injury and transported off the court by medical personnel. 
Vandalia would hold on for the win thanks to the supporting cast of 
players including Tyler Metcalf, Houston Miller, Michael Fields, Andrew 
Owen, Chase McNeil, Aaron Whittman, Christian Gravely, Tyler Christian 
Daniels, Zachary Dark, Brandon McDowell, James Wagner, Ethan Willis, 
Will Zimmerman, and Nathaniel Hobbs. And behind the scenes, managers 
Kloe Atkinson, Kani Totten, Storm Somers, and Gabriel Fields aided the 
cause. Coach Adams said the circumstances surrounding Zimmerman gave 
the team added motivation to get back to the championship game. With 
his cancer in remission, we are proud to announce that Will sat 
courtside to motivate and cheer his team to victory.
  Vandalia's varsity boys' soccer team also experienced success when it 
won the NCCSA 2-A state championship. It was the Viking soccer team's 
first title since 1994. They were coached by true Viking blood, VCS 
alumnus, Coach Jason McCall. With goalie Jeffrey Welker accounting for 
six saves, the Vikings took on Wilmington Christian on October 27, 
2012, with a stifling defensive approach, shutting out Wilmington 2-0.
  VCS scored both goals in the first half with a header by Houston 
Miller and then a put back by Joshua McClelland. Both goals were only 
separated by 10 minutes, giving Wilmington Christian an early uphill 
battle from which they could not overcome.
  Assistant Coach Junior Hannig accompanied Coach McCall in their quest 
for the elusive state title with the assistance of first team all-state 
Joshua McClelland, second team all-state Michael Matthews and Houston 
Miller, along with Tyler Metcalf, Jasper White, Zachary Dark, Jake 
Stone, Cates Banner, Jeffrey Welker, Matthew Hobbs, Arthur Ascensio, 
Will Zimmerman, Andrew Strickland, Colton Toft, and Bradley Casey.
  Every team will tell you that they need people cheering for them in 
their quest for glory. In the case of Vandalia Christian School, the 
teams with Vikings on their chests were supported by a cheerleading 
squad that also was crowned state champion this school year.
  Lead by head Coach Kim Hazelwood, the VCS cheerleaders included Ally 
Crook, Morgan Kennedy, Alyce Lentz, Morgan McDowell, Victoria Johnson, 
Ali Willard, Leanne Powell, Grace Wilson, Lauren Michaels, and Ashley 
Pollard.
  All in all, it has been quite a year for the students, faculty, 
staff, and families of Vandalia Christian School. On behalf of the 
citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate 
Principal Jeremy Cordova, Athletic Director Luke Oates, and the 
basketball, soccer, and cheerleading squads of VCS for their state 
championships.

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