Senate Concurrent Resolution 607

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL "PATRIOTS" BOYS SOCCER TEAM AND HEAD COACH HARL ROEHM FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST-EVER CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, DeSoto County High School Soccer is now at a level it has never been before. The district is now the home of a State Championship Program; and

WHEREAS, the Lewisburg boys, which earlier claimed the North Half Title with a sudden-death overtime win at Germantown (Madison), won the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) 5A State Soccer Title on February 9, 2019, with a dramatic 2-1 victory over South Half winner Long Beach at Brandon High School; and

WHEREAS, Junior Ben Mullins was the hero on offense for the Patriots, which finished the year 18-1-1. Mullins' two goals, including the Championship winner with seven and a half minutes left in the game, gave Lewisburg what it needed to recover from a 1-0 Long Beach lead early in the second half; and

WHEREAS, "Ben is one of our Captains because he is a leader," added Lewisburg Coach Harl Roehm. "When times are tough, this team is full of clutch players and he is right there at the top of the list and that is why he is a Captain"; and

WHEREAS, the victory marked a first for Lewisburg and for DeSoto County High Schools, which had never placed a team into a State Title Match before, or take home the coveted "Gold Ball" Trophy. Coach Roehm said the title fulfills a promise the program made years ago and also puts Lewisburg into national prominence, he said. "We set our task on national rankings. This is one step on the way to where we want to be, we want to put Lewisburg into a soccer powerhouse." MaxPreps has Lewisburg ranked 5th among state soccer programs and 23rd in the country. For now, the Patriots are happy to be Number One for Mississippi in their classification; and

WHEREAS, the 2019 Lewisburg High School "Patriots" Boys Soccer Team Championship Roster is: Austin Correro, GK, D; Jason Hoffman, David McCutchen, GK, MF; Kasdin Hale, FORW; Braylon Kettler; Ty Greer, FORW; Gage Lashlee; Hogan Payne; Ben Jones; Juan Medel, MF; Benjamin Mullins, C, MF; Blake Martin, D, MF; Lane Kirk; Brendon Galbraith, D, MF; Jake Heinze, MF; Trent Kirkland, D; Aaron Cook; Andrew Ohrberg, MF, FORW; Caleb Merritt, D; Matthew Drummond, D; Tanner Gillis, D; Boe Frazier; Blaine Galbraith, D, MF; Peyton Coker, C, MF, D, GK; Connor Murphy, D; and Kevin Rojas; Head Coach Harl Roehm; and Assistant Coach Scotti Miles; and

WHEREAS, 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 Lewisburg High School "Patriots" Boys Soccer Team and Head Coach Harl Roehm for winning their first-ever Class 5A State Championship, and extend to the players, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Roehm for the team and Lewisburg Principal Chris Fleming, forwarded to the DeSoto County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.