[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5647-5648]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS BASKETBALL 
                                 TEAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2017

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the University of 
South Carolina Gamecocks basketball team. It was the thrill of a 
lifetime to attend the NCAA women's basketball national championship 
game last Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The 
Gamecocks have electrified Columbia and the entire state of South 
Carolina, and we are all incredibly proud of what these coaches and 
players have achieved.
  For Head Coach Dawn Staley, winning the national championship is the 
latest in a string of achievements that she has accumulated in her 
lifetime and in South Carolina over the last nine seasons. Under her 
leadership, the Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament six years in a 
row and went to the final four in 2015. This year, they finally got 
over the hump and are national champions. Her coaching staff, Lisa 
Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia 
Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, and 
Katie Fowler have done an impressive job, and I congratulate each of 
them.
  The team Coach Staley has built is an incredible group of young women 
from South Carolina and around the country. A'ja Wilson, a Junior from 
Hopkins, South Carolina, won the Most Outstanding Player of the Final 
Four award and was named to the All-SEC First Team this season. Wilson 
was joined on the All-SEC First Team by Senior Alaina Coates from Irmo, 
South Carolina. Unfortunately, Coates missed the NCAA tournament with 
an ankle injury and has concluded a fantastic career with the 
Gamecocks. In addition to making All-SEC First team this year, she did 
so last season as well, and was All-SEC Second team in her first two 
years in the program. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she 
has as much success in the future as she has had with the Gamecocks.
  The full roster of this championship team includes: Victoria Patrick, 
Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion 
Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A'ja Wilson, Alexis 
Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris.
  The Gamecocks finished 2017 with a 33-4 record and won their third 
consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship en route to this 
national championship. The Gamecocks have developed an incredible fan 
base. They have led the nation in attendance for women's basketball 
over the last several years. In addition to their success on the court, 
these coaches and players are role models off the court.
  I especially want to acknowledge Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson. 
Diagnosed with cancer three years ago, she has been a real inspiration 
to many. Throughout her treatment she remained totally committed to the 
team, and never missed a day of work. Thankfully, she is now cancer 
free.

[[Page 5648]]

  I also wish to congratulate the Gamecocks Men's team. After winning 
their first NCAA tournament game in 43 years they reached the final 
four for the first time in their program's history. Having both men and 
women from the same school reach the Final Four is pretty uncommon.
  Coach Frank Martin and his assistants and staff consisting of: Matt 
Figger, Perry Clark, Bruce Shingler, Andy Assaley, Scott Greenawalt, 
Doug Edwards, Mark Rodger, Jay Gibbons, Dushawn Davis, Jarett Gerald, 
Brian Steele, and Ryan McIntyre recruited and molded an incredible 
group of young men including TeMarcus Blanton, Tommy Corchiani, PJ 
Dozier, Rakym Felder, Hassani Gravett, Khadim Gueye, Evan Hinson, Kory 
Holden, Jarrell Holliman, Sedee Keita, Maik Kotsar, Justin McKie, Duane 
Notice, John Ragin, Christian Schmitt, Chris Silva, Sindarius 
Thornwell, and Ran Tut. Although they came up five points short of a 
victory in the semi-championship game they proved themselves a team of 
champions.
  Mr. Speaker, although representing the University of South Carolina 
in this august body is a singular honor for me, I feel certain that the 
2017 NCAA Final Four appearances by these young men and women are the 
beginnings of many more to come. Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn 
Staley are truly a dynamic duo.

                          ____________________