[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I honor the University of 
South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team on their second place 
finish in the 2008 NCAA Division II Tournament. This was USD's first 
trip to the National Championship game.
  The USD women's basketball team has a long history of success, 
including three NCC Conference Championships from 1982 to 1985, as well 
as eight appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. South 
Dakota, which concluded the season with a 33 and 2 overall record, won 
the North Central Conference with a 12 and 0 record. This was USD's 
final season in Division II athletics and it was undoubtedly one of the 
best in school history.
  Certainly, this historic season would not have been possible without 
the players themselves. The members of the 2007-2008 University of 
South Dakota women's basketball team are as follows: Natalie Carda, 
Shannon Daly, Michelle Dirks, Anne Doshier, Kelli Fargen, Amber Hegge, 
Jeana Hoffman, Jenna Hoffman, Kara Iverson, Jasmine Mosley, Amy 
Robinette, Ashley Robinette, Annie Roche, Kendra Schomer, Bridget 
Yoerger, Maggie Youngberg.
  Although this accomplishment was truly a team effort, I would like to 
pay special recognition to their coach Chad Lavin, who will be retiring 
after 14 years with the USD women's basketball team. Coach Lavin is 
USD's career wins leader with 271. Lavin's coaching success has not 
gone unnoticed as he has been named the NCC Coach of the Year four 
different times and has been selected as the Russell Athletic/WBCA 
North Central Regional Coach of the Year for the 2007-2008 season.
  The coaches and student athletes of USD's women's basketball team 
should be very proud of all of their remarkable achievements this 
season. On behalf of the State of South Dakota, I am pleased to say 
congratulations to the Coyotes on this impressive season.

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