House Resolution 18

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LILLY OVERBY OF MENDENHALL, MISSISSIPPI, ON BEING NAMED GATORADE MISSISSIPPI GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Lilly Overby, a student at Simpson County Academy in Mendenhall, Mississippi, recently was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade Mississippi Girls Cross Country Player of the Year, bringing great honor to her family, school and community as the first student ever selected for the renowned award from her school; and

WHEREAS, Gatorade Player of the Year, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated in the classroom and community, distinguishes Overby as Mississippi's best high school girls cross country athlete and makes her a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year title; and

WHEREAS, the 5-foot-5 Overby, who finished the 2024-2025 season unbeaten in in-state competition, broke the tape at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class 5A state meet, impressively leading the Simpson Academy Cougars to third place as a team, and also won the Watson High School XC Classic with an incredible personal best time of 17:53:30; and

WHEREAS, owning the third-fastest girls prep 5K in state history, the junior phenomenally clocked Mississippi's fastest girls prep 5K for the fall of 2024, won seven of her 10 races in the last season, and improved immensely from 142nd at the national RunningLane Championships in 2023 to 60th place in 2024; and

WHEREAS, when not running with the Cougars, Overby, boasting a 3.68 GPA, remains busy in school tirelessly serving as her class president for the fifth year, a chapel leader and member of the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter; and

WHEREAS, outside of school, Overby maintains an active schedule serving in her community as a member of Mendenhall's Mayor's Youth Council and as a Hoby Mississippi Leadership Ambassador, in addition to selflessly volunteering countless hours of her time on behalf of Operation Christmas Child and Diamond Dolls; and

WHEREAS, it is the custom of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the outstanding accomplishments of a remarkable young citizen of our state such as Lilly Overby, whose excellence on the cross country course and beyond brings honor to her school, community and the entire State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Lilly Overby upon being named Gatorade Mississippi Girls Cross Country Player of the Year and extend best wishes for continued success in her senior season and in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lilly Overby and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.