[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 30549]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of myself, 
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and Congresswoman Thelma Drake to call 
attention to a group of young students from Hampton, Virginia, who have 
distinguished themselves, their school, their community and the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.
  The Hampton High School Crabbers football team had a remarkable 
season, and we believe the Crabbers deserve formal recognition for 
their accomplishments. On December 10, 2005, the Hampton High School 
Crabbers won their 17th state football championship, defeating Stone 
Bridge High School of Ashburn 15-8, at Todd Stadium in Newport News, 
Virginia.
  The Crabbers finished the season with a 12-1 record. Hampton High 
holds a Virginia record of 17 state football championships. This is 
also the 12th state championship for Hampton High Head Football Coach 
Mike Smith.
  This latest championship is just another accolade for the City of 
Hampton's oldest school. Hampton High School is also the direct 
descendent of the Syms-Eaton School, the first free school established 
in the American colonies. Syms Free School was founded in 1647. The 
school has existed in many incarnations and buildings since then, with 
Hampton's current school building being constructed in 1956.
  The legacy of Hampton High is not limited to just the field of 
athletics. Under the Direction of Principal Anthony Woods, the Hampton 
faculty seeks to inspire students to strive for excellence and 
achievement in the classroom, in their extracurricular activities and 
in their communities. Hampton High has the second highest percentage of 
accredited teachers in the state of Virginia. Hampton High received the 
Award of Academic Excellence from the Department of Education in 1985. 
Hampton students meet rigorous academic requirements, and they take 
responsibility for their own academic progress, behavior and 
attendance. It is clear that this drive for excellence in academics 
goes hand in hand with excellence in athletics.
  The Crabber's excellence in football is characteristic of the quality 
of athletics in the Peninsula District of Virginia. Hampton High 
School's championship this year marked the lOth time in the last 
fifteen years that a Peninsula District team has won a state title in 
football. To quote from our hometown newspaper, the Daily Press, ``High 
school football on the Peninsula is championship football. ``
  We would like to extend our enthusiastic congratulations to Coach 
Mike Smith, his coaching staff and all of the players on the Hampton 
High School Crabbers, the 2005 Group AAA Division Virginia High School 
League state football champions.

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