House Resolution 111

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN'S GOLF TEAM UPON WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Men's Golf Team had a record-breaking year by winning the program's second national championship, along with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) District D Tournament for the fifteenth time in the last 16 events, and claiming the last 12 tournaments of the year; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs have been superbly coached and inspired by Head Coach Brad Thornton, who was named the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Men's Golf Team is comprised of a number of talented student-athletes, and each member contributed to the outstanding success of the team; and

WHEREAS, Will Burnham was named Ping Division II All-American First Team, NJCAA All-American Second Team, College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, and Bobcat Invitational Medalist, and won the Hubert Tucker Award for best scoring average in MACCC play; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Zielinski was named Ping All-American First Team, NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention, All-MACCC First Team, Bulldog Invitational Medalist, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-American of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Jackson Wise was named Ping All-American Honorable Mention, NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, Lou Hart Invitational Medalist, and won the Tommy Snell Award as MACCC Championship Medalist; and

WHEREAS, Peyton Russell was named NJCAA All-American First Team, Ping All-American Second Team, All-MACCC First Team and NJCAA Preview Medalist; and

WHEREAS, Stanley Campbell was named Ping All-American Honorable Mention, NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention, All-MACCC First Team and NJCAA Gulf District Championship Medalist; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Davidson had five top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish and two other top-fives; and

WHEREAS, John Mark Mills had one runner-up and five top-10 finishes, and earned NJCAA All-Academic First Team honors; and

WHEREAS, Mateo Jiminez had one top-20 finish and earned NJCAA All-Academic Third team honors; and

WHEREAS, Ludvig Behring had one top-10 finish and earned NJCAA All-Academic Second Team honors; and

WHEREAS, Garner Seymour had one top-20 finish; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs were not only successful on the course but also in the classroom, as the team earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Honorable Mention; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend superb accomplishments of student-athletes whose efforts on and off the course bring honor to their school, their families and to the 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 the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Men's Golf Team upon winning the national championship and extend most sincere wishes for success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College President Dr. Mary S. Graham, Vice President Dr. Ladd Taylor, Dean of Athletics Steven Campbell Jr., Coach Brad Thornton and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.