MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Barrett, Barnett, Williams, Jackson (32nd), Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL "PANTHERS" BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM AND COACH SHANNON KNOTT FOR THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, it was a total team effort from everyone wearing an "Ole Brook" racing bib Saturday, October 31, 2020, at Choctaw Trails. That's what it took for the Brookhaven High School Boys Cross-Country Team to win the Mississippi High School Activities Association 5A State Championship; and
WHEREAS, it was a second-straight title, but it did not come easy for the Panthers as they edged out their rivals from Saltillo High by a 29-36 score; and
WHEREAS, the top five finishers from each team are the ones whose scores count toward the point total and the top 10 was almost exclusively members of those two teams. Brookhaven High Junior Grayson Childress (16:27) was the second overall finisher. Junior Sam Arnold (16:49) finished fourth overall. The third Panther across the finish line was Junior Trey Knott (17:05) in sixth place. The Panthers took ninth and tenth place when Junior Jake Thompson (17:19) and Sophomore X'Zavion Stewart (17:36) finished ahead of another pair of Saltillo runners. Brookhaven High School Junior Collin Kellum (17:56) came in 12th overall and Freshman Wyatt Scott was the 39th finisher out of the 82-man field; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Panthers beat Saltillo to win their first team title. The next year the Tigers came back to beat Brookhaven High School by a razor-thin margin. Last year the Panthers blew out the Tigers from Lee County and the rest of the field as they cruised to another title. This season Brookhaven High School went to Saltillo High and defeated their rivals on September 19 in the Saltillo Invitational. Brookhaven High School closed the season having not lost a race to a school from Mississippi in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Brookhaven High School Coach Shannon Knott said, "It was possibly our best team effort. Our guys will never quit and that's what it took"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a special group of student athletes whose second championship has 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 Brookhaven High School "Panthers" Boys Cross-County Team and Coach Shannon Knott for their second consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future successes.
Be it further resolved, That this resolution be presented to Coach Shannon Knott and Brookhaven High School Principal Stacy Walker, forwarded to the Brookhaven School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.