[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE DANCE TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 17, 2007

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
University of Tennessee Dance Team, located in my District, for winning 
their first ever Division IA National title.
  On January 15th, 2007, the team competed against 17 other Division IA 
dance teams at the Universal Dance Associations College Nationals held 
at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.
  The team was awarded an all expenses paid trip to the national 
competition after placing third in the qualifying round, based on a two 
minute video they submitted in October, 2006.
  Although they placed 1st in semi-finals, the team knew their 
competitors would step up their performances in the next round. In the 
final round, Tennessee gave its strongest performance yet, leaving the 
crowd in awe and leaving no doubt in the minds of the judges who should 
receive the National title.
  The team defeated the four time National Champions, the Minnesota 
Golden Gopher Dance Team, by a margin of more than 20 points.
  The Tennessee dancers worked intensely to reach this never before 
attained goal, practicing up to three times a day over their holiday 
break.
  The Tennessee Spirit program is the only program in the country to 
place in the top five in the Cheerleading, Mascot and Dance divisions.
  I would also like to congratulate coaches Kelley Eidenmuller, Valerie 
Baxter and Spirit Coordinator Joy Postell on their exceptional work 
with this group of dancers.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to call to the attention of 
my colleagues and other readers of the Congressional Record a recent 
article from utsports.com regarding the University of Tennessee Dance 
Team's outstanding achievement.

           Tennessee Dance Team Captures First National Crown

       Orlando, Jan. 14, 2007.--Tennessee's long elusive national 
     crown finally found its resting place in Knoxville as 
     Tennessee's Dance team captured its first national crown in 
     commanding fashion in the land of dreams and wishes.
       At the Milk House in Orlando, Florida, Tennessee put on a 
     dominating performance before a packed house at the Wide 
     World of Sports Complex. Performing to ``Your House'' by 
     Alisa Morissette, the dance team performed to an Acapella 
     version of the song and simply rocked the house.
       Co-Head Coach Kellie Edenmueller said this team knew this 
     was the material it would take to bring home the national 
     championship.
       ``We knew from the moment we put this together it had the 
     potential to bring us a national championship. Our girls 
     worked tirelessly and put together a great performance.''
       Tennessee was not without their fans as more than 150 made 
     their way to the Milk House and turned the old can into a 
     home away from home. It was something this program has sought 
     for almost a decade.
       ``It is finally a breath of fresh air to win this national 
     title, both from a coaching standpoint and a coordinator of 
     trying to raise the bar,'' said UT Spirit Coordinator Joy 
     Postell. ``Repeatedly these squads have come here and have 
     left disappointed because they did not achieve their goal. To 
     finally achieve the goal, to represent your university and to 
     win the title is breathtaking and ecstatic.
       ``The feeling I have and pride I have that UT has allowed 
     me to have a phenomenal program to reach out to so many 
     spirit athletes. Not just athletics but in every aspect and 
     to bring notoriety to this university. At Tennessee we work 
     together as a team and cheer, dance, and mascot are all 
     emphasized as being winners and achievers. Everyone of these 
     teams is very supportive of the other. I am very fortunate to 
     have the tools the university provides me to succeed. For us 
     to reach the top five in every category is both not just a 
     personal goal but a goal of every athlete in this program.''
       Tennessee was the only program in the nation to place in 
     the top five in the country in Mascot (5th place), Cheer (4th 
     place) and dance again in the Hip-Hop division with a 5th 
     place finish.
       Tonight was truly magical and the young women made it 
     happen.

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