[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18061]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING SEAN ROONEY AND THE U.S. OLYMPIC MEN'S INDOOR VOLLEYBALL TEAM

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                          HON. PETER J. ROSKAM

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable 
accomplishments of Sean Rooney of Wheaton, Illinois, and his 
contributions to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Team's 
triumph to win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
  At Wheaton-Warrenville South High School in my district, Sean was a 
standout player who garnered Illinois State Player of the Year honors 
and led his team to a State championship in 2001. He then went on to 
Pepperdine University, where he became one of their top players and 
helped lead them to a national championship in 2005. After graduating 
in 2005, Sean continued to pursue his love of the sport, playing 
professionally for 2 years.
  Then, Sean was selected to represent his country on the international 
stage as a member of the United States' Men's Indoor Volleyball Team in 
the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China. As the competition 
was beginning, though, the team faced a tragic setback when Todd 
Bachman, the father-in-law of the team's coach, Hugh McCutcheon, was 
fatally stabbed and his wife was seriously injured following an act of 
random, senseless violence.
  In the face of this adversity, the team rallied behind their coach 
and his family to win three games. When their coach returned for the 
remainder of the tournament, the team won five more games, including an 
incredible upset victory over the top-ranked team from Brazil to win 
the Gold Medal.
  The Olympic Games are a time for countries to come together in the 
spirit of competition and sportsmanship. They are a time to showcase 
the best our country has to offer. Sean Rooney and the Men's Volleyball 
Team showed outstanding courage, commitment and athleticism at the 
Beijing Olympics and our country couldn't be more proud.
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in 
recognizing Sean Rooney and the entire Men's Indoor Volleyball Team for 
their remarkable performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

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