Senate Concurrent Resolution 564

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE OCEAN SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL "GREYHOUNDS" BOYS SOCCER TEAM AND COACH JEFF FRENCH FOR WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Ocean Springs High School "Greyhounds" Boys Soccer Team celebrated on the field after winning the Class 6A State Championship over Madison Central High School on February 8, 2020, in Ridgeland, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Ocean Springs Boys Soccer Team rolled into the state title bout with only four losses this season, but Greyhound Coach Jeff French described his team as giant killers after a 2-0 win over Madison Central in the 6A championship contest; and

WHEREAS, to win the school's second boys state title, Ocean Springs had to defeat three very strong teams in a row, Brandon 2-1 in overtime, Northwest Rankin 2-1 and previously unbeaten Madison Central. "I told them that nothing that means something comes easy. If you want something that lasts a lifetime you have to really earn it. These guys are resilient. They believed in themselves"; and

WHEREAS, Ocean Springs won despite being outshot 20-9, thanks to goals by Adam Walker and Keeton Holifield and 15 saves by Goalie Gabriel Evans; and

WHEREAS, Ocean Springs' previous boys championship, also with French as Coach, came in 2011. The Greyhounds finished 18-4-2; and

WHEREAS, the Greyhounds 2020 soccer roster is: Keeton Holifield, KJ Mack, Patch Heard, Zion McClean, Sam Whyte, Coen Ta, Caleb Montiforte, Adam Walker, Harper Baggett, Jayce Whitney, Brent West, Ethan Hunt, Josh Koch, Ethan Pepper, Cesar Garcia, Zack Wade, Alex Overby, Dustin Landry, Moses Bradenburg, Chase Beemon, Demetrio Kosturakis, Aden Knight, Jackson Rester, Marcel Hopson, Boyd Driggers, Matheson Chen, Evann Buck, Ryan Hendren, Gabe Evans and Caleb Pepper; and Coach Jeff French; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this 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 Ocean Springs High School "Greyhounds" Boys Soccer Team and Coach Jeff French for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Championship, 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 Jeff French for the team and Ocean Springs Principal Vickie Tiblier, forwarded to the Ocean Springs School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.