[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 204--CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 
   WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2023 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE 
  ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP, THE PROGRAM'S SIXTH TITLE OVERALL

  Mr. LANKFORD (for himself and Mr. Mullin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 204

       Whereas the University of Oklahoma women's gymnastics team 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Sooners'') won the 
     2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in 
     this preamble as ``NCAA'') championship, defeating second 
     seed University of Florida, fifth seed University of Utah, 
     and sixth seed Louisiana State University;
       Whereas, as of the 2023 NCAA championship, the Sooners--
       (1) have won 6 NCAA championships;
       (2) won its second consecutive NCAA championship;
       (3) won its third NCAA championship in 4 years;
       (4) won its sixth NCAA championship in 9 years; and
       (5) are tied for the fourth-most national championships in 
     NCAA women's gymnastics history;
       Whereas, at the 2023 NCAA championship, the Sooners, with a 
     score of 198.3875, tied the record for highest score ever 
     achieved at an NCAA women's gymnastics championship, which 
     the Sooners set in 2017;
       Whereas the Sooners' score of 49.5625 in the vault at the 
     2023 NCAA championship is the fourth best score for vault at 
     the NCAA championship in Sooners history;
       Whereas, during the 2023 NCAA championship, the Sooners 
     jumped out to a narrow lead over the University of Florida in 
     the first rotation and went wire-to-wire;
       Whereas all 6 gymnasts on the Sooners scored a 9.900 or 
     higher on the floor exercise in the fourth rotation to secure 
     the 2023 NCAA championship.
       Whereas 8 gymnasts on the Sooners earned a total of 10 NCAA 
     All-America honors, and 5 earned first-team honors;
       Whereas the Sooners finished at number 1 in the NCAA 
     women's gymnastics final rankings;
       Whereas Olivia Trautman won the NCAA vault title, becoming 
     the seventh University of Oklahoma athlete, and the first 
     athlete since Anastasia Webb in 2021, to win an individual 
     NCAA championship;
       Whereas Meilin Sullivan was named the NCAA Elite 90 Award 
     Winner, becoming the fifth University of Oklahoma athlete and 
     second member of the Sooners to receive the award;
       Whereas the Sooners head coach, K.J. Kindler, led the team 
     to a 28 win, 2 loss season that included--
       (1) a Big 12 Conference championship;
       (2) a NCAA regional crown; and
       (3) an NCAA championship; and
       Whereas the 2023 NCAA championship season is the sixth 
     triple crown for the Sooners and Coach Kindler: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the University of Oklahoma women's 
     gymnastics team for winning the 2023 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association championship;
       (2) recognizes the supreme standard set by--
       (A) head coach K.J. Kindler;
       (B) the University of Oklahoma staff; and
       (C) the gymnasts on the University of Oklahoma women's 
     gymnastics team; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the president of the University of Oklahoma, Joseph 
     Harroz, Jr.;
       (B) the athletics director of the University of Oklahoma, 
     Joe Castiglione; and
       (C) the head coach of the University of Oklahoma women's 
     gymnastics team, K.J. Kindler.

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