Senate Concurrent Resolution 609

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING SQUAD AND COACH MARIE HARLOW AND COACH JOSEPH ARKANSAS FOR WINNING THE UNIVERSAL CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION (UCA) WORLD GAME DAY CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR REPEATING THE SUPER VARSITY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

WHEREAS, when it comes to cheerleading, DeSoto County is where the best in the country and world reside. DeSoto Central High School's 27-member cheerleading team, which won the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Super Varsity Game Day National Championship in February 2018, has repeated that accomplishment in February 2019 in Orlando, Florida; and

WHEREAS, the girls, who lead the cheers for the Jaguars Football Team and other sports during the athletic season, have now added a World Championship to their trophy case. They won the World Game Day title in another competition during the same weekend in February 2019; and

WHEREAS, "The team competed with the same routine for Game Day in the World event, competing against all of the winners of Game Day and teams from other countries," Coach Marie Harlow said; and

WHEREAS, the back-to-back national titles are the first occurrence of that type for any cheerleading squad in the country, according to Coach Harlow, who leads the team with Coach Joseph Arkansas. The team won State and Regional Competitions ahead of the performances in Florida; and

WHEREAS, judges watch the cheerleaders do different routines they use during the course of a game, such as a sideline cheer, something they would do with a pep band song, and other similar routines, including the school fight song. Game Day is all about what you cheer at school events and putting that into a competition on the mat. You have to have correct motion placement, doing the exact same synchronized motion in order. Teams are judged on correct technique, floor placement, presentation and energy; and

WHEREAS, the coaches were very proud of the team for their hard work and their exceptional performances. The girls practice their hearts out and put it all out there with the end results being a National Champion again. They now have a National Jacket, a World Jacket and World Medals. Being the top-ranked school for Game Day, their scores also were higher than any other school that they placed with this season; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the supporters of DeSoto Central High School in honoring a group of 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 DeSoto Central High School Cheerleading Squad and Coach Marie Harlow and Coach Joseph Arkansas for winning the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) World Game Day Championship and for repeating the Super Varsity National Championship in Orlando, Florida, and extend to the team, parents, coaches and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coaches Arkansas and Harlow and DeSoto Principal Cliff Johnston, forwarded to the DeSoto County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.