MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Watson, Chassaniol, Dearing, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Seymour
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE OCEAN SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL "GREYHOUNDS" CHEERLEADING TEAM AS THE 2017 MHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS FOR THE LARGE VARSITY DIVISION.
WHEREAS, the Ocean Springs High School Cheerleaders won the 2017 Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State Championship in the Large Varsity Division during State Finals on December 16, 2017; and
WHEREAS, "I don't know if I could even explain that moment," said Ocean Springs High School Cheerleading Coach Julianne Nettles. "We were very excited. This was our three seniors' first year in their four years on the Competition Team to win State, so it was a really big win for them"; and
WHEREAS, Ocean Springs is no stranger to cheerleading success. One of Mississippi's top programs, the Greyhounds won State Titles from 2011-2014 and a World Championship in 2013, but it had been three years since their last title, a long drought by Ocean Springs High School standards; and
WHEREAS, Coach Nettles is the daughter of longtime Ocean Springs High School Cheerleading Coach Dianne Nettles. The younger Nettles had served as an Assistant Coach to her mother and Kelly Pilger for the past four years, but this was her first as the Head Coach. In mid-February she and her squad turned their attention to the National and World Competitions at Walt Disney World. Nettles explained that teams can qualify for the National Competition either by winning their respective State Championships or by qualifying in a Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Regional Competition. Ocean Springs qualified for the World Championships by finishing in the Top 10 nationally the prior year. The Greyhounds will compete in the National Finals February 10-11, 2018, followed by the World Competition the next day; and
WHEREAS, members of the Greyhounds Championship squad are: seniors: Benett DeMeritt, Allison Streiff and Annie Shy; juniors: Emily Davis, Emily Blades, Devyn Rossi, Caroline Melchi, Katelyn Rossi, Tatum Parks, Chloe Kirby and Anna Grace Dill; sophomores: Harper Hendren, Breanna Akins, Lexi Tufo, Brooke Nitz, Nissa Johnson, Bella Valdez, Anniston Warrick, Kristen Wheeler and Olivia Gray; and freshmen: Sophia Diaz, Taylor Goley, Maura Kaye Hubbard, Gianna Milanese, Jane Alice Dill and Alyssa Jones; and it is with great pride that we recognize these student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Ocean Springs High School "Greyhounds" Cheerleading Team as the 2017 MHSAA State Champions for the Large Varsity Division and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Nettles for the team, forwarded to Ocean Springs Principal Vickie J. Tiblier, members of the Ocean Springs School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.