[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            A NEW TRADITION OF WINNING AT NORTH STOKES HIGH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 28, 2014

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, success depends heavily on 
tradition, and the boys' track team at North Stokes High in Stokes 
County, North Carolina, provided a perfect example of just how 
important that dependence can be. I am pleased to announce that the 
North Stokes boys' track team that calls the Sixth District home, 
recently won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 
lA track and field championships for the first time in the school's 
history.
  The Vikings' path to victory, however, was not a straight line. The 
team faced fierce competition--and holding no previous state titles--it 
seemed the odds were against them. Despite these obstacles the Vikings 
were able to solidify the top spot after completing the 4x400 meter 
dash. The team set a personal record of 3:34.26, which they achieved by 
knocking eight seconds off their previous time. Coach Mike Williams 
credits the team's success to the program's strong sense of tradition 
and support from the staff.
  While winning is important, it is not everything to the North Stokes 
Vikings. ``We want to see results,'' Coach Williams told the Stokes 
News, ``but it's also important to us that the kids are having fun.'' 
Williams said that it took the entire team to bring home the state 
championship. Members of the team included Colin Anderson, Austin 
Boyles, Brandon Boyles, Daniel Brown, Cameron Corns, Noah Dike, Dawson 
Durham, Junior Fulks, James Hammonds, Erin Heath, Justin Kenard, Andy 
Kopp, Andrew Lankford, Ross Lucia, Kaleb Marshall, Kenny Myers, Laith 
Nickell, Ottaway Shepard, Kevin Robertson, Jarrett Slate, Mark Tucker, 
Seth Tucker, Blake Williams, and Dakota Young. Coach Williams guided 
the Vikings to the top with outstanding help by assistant coaches 
Rodney King, Jimmy Dillard, Ben Kelble, and Breanna Largen.
  In addition to the team victory, two Vikings brought home individual 
titles. Moriah Boyette and Justin Kenard both finished first at the 
track meet. Boyette won the girls' pole vault competition, while Kenard 
captured the individual title for North Stokes in the boys' 800-meter.
  On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we 
congratulate Principal Nathan Rasey, Athletic Director Trey Wiggins, 
the faculty, staff and students of North Stokes High School for winning 
the lA track and field state championships. The Vikings have started a 
new tradition of winning at North Stokes High.

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