[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4846]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EAU CLAIRE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC 
                     ASSOCIATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2013

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Eau Claire Memorial 
High School boy's hockey team, the Old Abes, on winning the Wisconsin 
Interscholastic Athletic Association State Championship. Their 6-1 
victory over Verona on March 2, 2013 was a true display of 
sportsmanship and teamwork.
   After starting 0-2-1 and finishing second to Hudson in the Big 
Rivers Conference, the team faced a seemingly impossible road to the 
State Championship. But the Old Abes did not let those setbacks deter 
them from their dream of being the second team in history to bring home 
the State Championship for Eau Claire Memorial High School.
   With the loss of two key players before the season started, Coach 
Mike Schwengler and senior team captain Brady Bollinger worked hard to 
build the young team into a strong, cohesive unit. After reassigning 
some key players to new positions, the puzzle pieces started to fit 
together, and the Old Abes won 20 of their last 23 games.
   Nonetheless, heading into the championship off of an incredible 
winning streak, the team still found themselves down 1-0 late in the 
first period. The team banded together and rose to the challenge. 
Bollinger answered Verona's goal less than a minute later to tie the 
score, and the rest of the team stepped up to follow his lead. Jacob 
Bresser scored two goals, Charley Graaskamp added a goal and two 
assists, and Dylan Ross added a goal and an assist. Finally, Austin 
Phippen had the sixth and final goal, while Alex Geving, the goalie, 
finished the game with a phenomenal 26 saves.
   This momentous win at the end of a difficult season exemplifies the 
dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship of each and every member of the 
Eau Claire Memorial High School boy's hockey team. Furthermore, this 
victory shines as a proud achievement for the Eau Claire community. 
Once again, I want to congratulate the Eau Claire Memorial High School 
boy's hockey team on their incredible season and hard-earned title as 
Wisconsin State Champions.

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