[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E420-E421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE GRACE COMMUNITY SCHOOL LADY COUGARS FOR WINNING THE 
                 TAPPS CLASS 5A BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIE GOHMERT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, it is with enormous pride that I recognize 
and congratulate the Grace Community School Lady Cougars on an 
outstanding basketball season in which they captured the Texas 
Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 5A Basketball 
Championship.
   The team finished this season with a most impressive 27-6 record, 
managing an undefeated 6-0 standing in their district. There was no 
doubt the Lady Cougars would be a powerful force in Texas and a 
basketball team with which to be reckoned.
   The path to the championship found the Grace Community team 
defeating the number one ranked team 42-41 in the semi-final game.
   Then, the Lady Cougars faced off with the team from Corpus Christi 
Incarnate Word to

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battle for the state championship title. This match was decided 
decisively with a 37-31 victory for Grace Community School.
   Clearly a team does not reach the ultimate and lofty plateau of 
excellence without coaches who know their players. There is no doubt 
that each of the individual players, coaches, and supporting personnel 
involved with the success of the Lady Cougars will benefit from having 
participated and witnessed the level of success. That success is only 
achieved when each individual gives all they have, while working 
together with focused dedication and passion.
   This tribute goes out to all of the athletic staff including 
Athletic Director Joseph Walker; Head Coach Galen Taylor; Assistant 
Coaches Mark Taylor, Bri Polk and David Robinson; Managers Clara 
Roberts and Esther Nwachukwu.
   The team members achieving this memorable accomplishment include 
Addie Daughtry, Jo Murray, Jordan Tauscher, Molly Hicks, Stella Thomas, 
Reagan Wilson, Emily Edwards, Lauren Evans and Lindsey Hudgins.
   An athletic team cannot achieve any true level of excellence without 
unwavering support from its school and its school leaders including 
Head Administrator Jay Ferguson and High School Principal Brian 
Benscoter. That is exactly the kind of support the Lady Cougars 
experienced from the entire community of Tyler and Smith County. That 
is why congratulations go to all the outstanding family, friends, and 
fans who contributed to the success of the Lady Cougars during this 
championship season.
   May God continue to bless all of their efforts both in school and as 
they one day finish high school and use that same drive and 
determination to make this country even stronger. Congratulations to 
the TAPPS State Basketball Champions, the Grace Community School Lady 
Cougars, as their legacy will endure as long as there is a United 
States of America.

                          ____________________