Senate Resolution 132

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN'S GOLF TEAM AND NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR BRAD THORNTON FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION II MEN'S GOLF 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 NJCAA District D Tournament for the fifteenth time in the last 16 events, and claiming the last 12 tournaments of the year; and

WHEREAS, for his efforts in leading the Bulldogs to such heights, Head Coach Brad Thornton was named the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America; and

WHEREAS, for their efforts on the course, 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 he won the Hubert Tucker Award for best scoring average in MACCC play; 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; 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 he won the Tommy Snell Award as MACCC Championship Medalist; Peyton Russell was named NJCAA All-American First Team, Ping All-American Second Team, All-MACCC First Team and NJCAA Preview Medalist; Stanley Campbell was named Ping All-American Honorable Mention, NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention, All-MACCC First Team and NJCAA Gulf District Championship Medalist; Kyle Davidson had five top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish and two other top-fives; John Mark Mills had one runner-up and five top-10 finishes, and earned NJCAA All-Academic First Team honors; Mateo Jiminez had one top-20 finish and earned NJCAA All-Academic Third team honors; Ludvig Behring had one top-10 finish and earned NJCAA All-Academic Second Team honors; and Garner Seymour had one top-20 finish; and

WHEREAS, for their efforts in the classroom, the team earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Honorable Mention; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize and commend the superb accomplishments of these 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 SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men's golf team and Coach Brad Thornton upon winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II championship and extend to them our heartfelt wishes of success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented 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 made available to the Capitol Press Corps.