[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7265-7266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO THE WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WARRIORS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TIMOTHY J. WALZ

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that 
I congratulate the Winona State University Men's Basketball team for 
winning the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II 
Men's Basketball National Championship with a victory over Augusta 
State University (Ga.) by a score of 87-76 in Springfield. 
Massachusetts.
  This victory, which came 1 month ago on March 29, 2008, marked the 
second national championship for the Warriors in 3 years.
  This team's accomplishments are almost too many to list. This was 
their third straight trip to the national championship. They have won 
the North Central Region title nine times in a row. They have won three 
straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles.
  In 2006-07, they broke the NCAA Division II consecutive win record by 
winning 57 straight games.
  In 2008, the Warriors finished the season with a record of 38-1, an 
NCAA Division II record for most victories in a season by an NCAA Men's 
Basketball Team. Over the past 3 years, they have posted an overall 
record of 105-6.
  The Warriors were coached to these accomplishments, as well as their 
second national championship, by head coach Mike Leaf, who has been 
named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year 
four times.
  This team was led by five seniors--John Smith, Jonte Flowers, Quincy 
Henderson, Shane Neiss and Brent Riese--who accrued a record of 129-17 
in their 4 years together.
  Following the 2008 Championship game, Jonte Flowers was named the 
2008 NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, 
while John Smith was named the NCAA Division Il Player of the Year by 
three separate publications.
  Congratulations to the Warriors! I look forward to your next National 
Championship!

[[Page 7266]]



                          ____________________