[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATING THE VENICE HIGH SCHOOL LADIES' VOLLEY-
                               BALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KATHERINE HARRIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Venice High 
School Lady Indians volleyball team, on their recent victory in the 
2006 Class 5A state volleyball championship.
  The team's 26-7 regular season record and championship victory 
certainly deserve applause; however, the manner in which they achieved 
their goal truly makes them champions.
  Under the leadership of Coach Brian Wheatley, this band of sisters 
turned a potentially disappointing season into a modern-day Cinderella 
story. Runners-up in 2004, the team began the season with only two 
returning starters, offering little hope for anything more than a 
``rebuilding'' season. However, a little hope and a lot of grit and 
determination was all this team needed.
  They saw in each other the desire to succeed, the willingness to 
sacrifice and the wisdom to work as a team; with perseverance and 
commitment to each other, they refused to give up.
  In the end, the season was a learning experience. And it was an 
experience in which the entire community shared. The Lady Indians 
deserve their championship, and they deserve our thanks for a season of 
inspiration.
  The members of the 2005 Venice High School Varsity volleyball team 
are: Leah Bodi, Marla Cooke, Dana Dumas, Natalie Gaudreau, Ashley Graf, 
Nickie Halbert, Julie Howlett, Casie Richards, Casey Taylor, Michaela 
Trimble, and Danielle Witte.
  To this collection of Cinderellas, I offer my congratulations.

                          ____________________