[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5096-5097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LaSALLE LANCERS AND THE TAFT SENATORS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Chabot) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, boxing legend Muhammad Ali once said, 
``Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they 
have deep inside them--a desire, a dream, a vision.''

[[Page 5097]]

  I would like to recognize two high school basketball teams from my 
district which proved that they are, indeed, champions. They had the 
desire to make every practice count and to play every game as if it 
were their last. They shared a dream that was strong enough to overcome 
the many distractions all high school kids face, and their coaches gave 
them the vision that all their hard work and sacrifice would pay off in 
the end.
  The schools? The LaSalle Lancers and the Taft Senators.
  First, congratulations to the LaSalle Lancers on winning the 2011 
Ohio Division I Basketball State Championship. LaSalle is a boys' 
Catholic high school in my district that is particularly special to me 
since it's my alma mater. Regardless of my personal attachments to the 
school, I'd like to recognize them on a job well-done and a season 
well-played. They represented themselves and our community with an 
outstanding display of athleticism, sportsmanship and class throughout 
the season--but especially in the playoffs.
  The players and coaches stuck together in the face of adversity, 
especially when their head coach, Dan Fleming, suffered a heart attack, 
which placed sports and the tournament in perspective. The LaSalle 
family rallied around their coach, and the Lancers, led by their 
seniors and the assistant coaches, went on to win their first 
basketball State championship in 15 years and the second in school 
history.

                              {time}  1010

  I would also like to congratulate Coach Tom Grippa and the LaSalle 
Lancer football team for their tremendous season. You made us proud. 
Congratulations Lancers.
  I also rise today to congratulate the Taft High School Senators, who 
won the Division 3 Basketball State Championship. Now I acknowledge 
that it's rare that a Member of this esteemed body, the House of 
Representatives, ever says anything positive about Senators, but I'd 
like to make an exception today.
  Led by their head coach, Mark Mitchell, the Senators defeated 
Cleveland Central Catholic High School to win the first State 
championship in school history. The Senators went into the tournament 
ranked number 1 by the Associated Press. They not only made school 
history by winning their first State championship, but they also set a 
Division 3 boys basketball record for the most points scored in a 
championship game. Finishing the season at 26 and 1 is quite a feat. It 
is an honor to have them represent our district, and I congratulate 
them on their success.
  I would be remiss if I didn't also commend former Cincinnati Bengal 
star Mike Martin for the tremendous effort that he has made in turning 
around the Taft High School football program, mentoring his players to 
be successful in life as well as on the football field.
  Let me conclude by once again congratulating the players, the 
coaches, the students, the faculty, and the fans of Cincinnati's 
LaSalle Lancers and Taft Senators for the inspirational seasons you've 
just completed. You've made all of us very proud. Your accomplishments 
will be long remembered. Go Lancers! And go Senators!

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