[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a school in my 
District which was recently crowned as state champion in football. The 
Westfield High School Bulldogs Football team, led by Athletic Director 
Terri Towle, Head Coach Kyle Simmons and Assistant Coaches Dan Keating, 
Jon Shields, Mike Giancola, Pete Bendorf, Jose Ardon, Alex Callas, Mike 
King, Chris Coyer, and Curtis Knight, was one of several teams who won 
state titles in a variety of sports from Virginia's 10th Congressional 
District. I am proud of their hard work in achieving this goal. They 
practiced long hours as a team, and this extraordinary achievement 
shows how far dedication, hard work, and commitment to teamwork can 
take a group as they played against some of the best competition in the 
nation.
  This year's state championship was a rematch of the 2015 state 
championship, where Westfield defeated Oscar Smith High School in 
quadruple overtime. Oscar Smith jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first 
quarter; but Westfield took the lead in the second with touchdowns by 
Nolan Cockrill and Sean Eckert. They extended their lead to 21-7 in the 
third after Nathaniel Chung punched in a third touchdown. However, 
Oscar Smith stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns 
and executing a two point conversion with seven seconds left on the 
clock to send the game to overtime. Oscar Smith struck first with a 
touchdown pass on the first play. With the game on the line, Westfield 
answered with a touchdown pass of its own, tying the game at 28 and 
forcing a second overtime. Westfield had capitalized on having the 
first possession, with Rehman Johnson throwing his fourth touchdown of 
the night to Ivory Frimpong. Westfield's defense then rose up, and 
stopped Oscar Smith's high powered offense on the three yard line and 
in doing so, secured the Bulldogs second state championship in as many 
years.
  Westfield High School's Football team has made Virginia's 10th 
Congressional District proud and they have represented us well. Winning 
a state championship attests to their impressive athletic ability, 
unselfish mentality, and determination to succeed. I commend them for 
their tireless dedication to both their school and their teammates, 
without neither of which this could have been possible. It takes a 
delicate combination of superior skill and many hours of practice to 
win a state title. Westfield Football has certainly earned this honor 
and the lessons learned over the years will valuably serve them as they 
continue on in their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the 
Westfield Bulldogs for winning the Virginia 6A Football State 
Championship and representing Virginia's 10th Congressional District 
with such distinction. I wish them all the best in their future 
endeavors.