[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 50 (Monday, March 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE WELLINGTON-NAPOLEON LADY TIGERS STATE BASKETBALL 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 2022

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Class 2 State 
Championship won by the Wellington-Napoleon Lady Tigers basketball 
team. Such an achievement is the result of strong leadership and years 
of dedication from players and coaches alike, and it is truly an honor 
to recognize this exemplary group of athletes from the Fifth District 
of Missouri.
  After falling just 7 points short of a state championship 1 year ago, 
the motto for the entire team all year long has been ``unfinished 
business.'' This sense of drive and determination to not only return to 
the state championship game, but to cut down the nets this time around, 
was reflected in the team's dominant season, with 28 victories and a 
mere two losses. Winning their last 19 games in a row, the Lady Tigers 
earned a reputation a one of the most fiercely competitive teams 
throughout the State of Missouri. Led by Head Coach Andy Hampton, the 
Wellington-Napoleon girls basketball team faced off against the 
Ellington Whippets in a rematch of last year's title game on Saturday, 
March 12, at the JQH Arena in Springfield, Missouri. This year, 
however, the Lady Tigers prevailed.
  Playing exceptional defense for the duration of the game, Wellington-
Napoleon kept the Whippets from scoring a single field goal throughout 
the third quarter while only allowing three baskets in the entire 
second half. The Lady Tigers' seven blocks and nine steals were backed 
up by outstanding offensive performances from Ayden Shannon, Bree 
Shannon, and Kaylin Ellensohn, who scored 46 of their team's 52 points. 
Fulfilling their ultimate goal for the season, the Wellington-Napoleon 
girls basketball team won the Class 2 State Championship in decisive 
fashion, with a 52-31 victory over Ellington. With the state trophy 
making its way home to Wellington-Napoleon, it brings me great joy in 
saying that hard work and dedication has paid off once again. This 
victory marks the first state championship this program has won, but I 
have no doubt that more will follow.
  The Lady Tigers' tremendous success this season is just one of many 
achievements to come for the players and the coaching staff. One of the 
remarkable aspects of competitive athletics is that it opens up a wide 
range of opportunities in other walks of life. Some of these young 
women will continue their basketball careers at colleges and 
universities; all of them will hold and cherish memories from their 
time at Wellington-Napoleon, where they learned what it meant to work 
as a team in pursuit of a common goal. Indeed, these life lessons will 
only prove more valuable as time goes on. I am proud of everyone who 
made this season possible--from the players and their parents, to the 
coaches and the loyal fans--and I look forward to seeing where life 
takes each of these promising student-athletes. I wish all of these 
young women the best of luck going forward, and once again I want to 
express how extraordinarily proud I am of this team and their 
achievements. On behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, 
congratulations on such a successful season.
  Madam Speaker, please join with me in celebrating the Wellington-
Napoleon Lady Tigers basketball team and the State Championship they 
have brought home. Here's to taking care of business.

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