House Resolution 91

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ASHLEY JOHNSON OF THE GAUTIER HIGH SCHOOL LADY GATORS SOCCER TEAM AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON BEING NAMED THE SUN HERALD'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Gautier High School Lady Gators' midfielder, Ashley Johnson, entered her senior season with several goals on her agenda to be accomplished, but neither being named the Sun Herald's Soccer Player of the Year nor leading the nation in scoring were among her list of things to do; and

WHEREAS, Johnson led the Lady Gators to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A South State finals through amazing feats of profound athleticism, having scored an incredible 50 goals with 15 assists, which accounted for more than 80% of the Lady Gators' scoring; and

WHEREAS, described by Gautier girls Coach Dean Joseph as "a wonderful ambassador for our high school," Ashley's profound love for the game overshadowed her need to keep up with the number of goals she scored, as she admits, "I just went out and played the game. I didn't keep a count of the goals I was scoring until the end of the season."; and

WHEREAS, Johnson's season performance enabled her to edge Torie Zimmer of Biloxi and Our Lady Academy's Ashley Libys for the top honor, and to become the first Lady Gator to earn Player of the Year recognition; and

WHEREAS, a six-year starter with the Lady Gators, Miss Johnson climaxes her senior year athletic career as the school's record holder for all-time leading goal scorer with 96 goals, most goals in one game, most goals in one season and national leader in most goals according to Maxpreps.com, having accumulated 50 goals and 17 assists in 2010, 32 goals in 2009 and 14 goals and two assists in 2008; and

WHEREAS, with a treasure chest of awards and accomplishments that will precede her in her future soccer undertakings as well as will be long remembered by her teammates, opponents and fans alike, Ashley's repertoire of honors includes: Gautier High Most Valuable Player 2007 and 2010; Gautier High Offensive Player of the Year 2009 and 2010; Gautier High Most Improved 2006, Gautier High Schools Wendy's Heisman Winner 2010-2011; All-District Team 2007, 2009 and 2010; All-State Team 2010; South All-Star Team 2010 (Senior Bowl); All-Coast Team 2010; All-Coast Player of the Year 2010; Mississippi Olympic Development Program Team 2004-2011; the only Gautier player to achieve National Pool Player 2008, where she attended the National Identification Camp in Pomona, California; and the only Gautier player to achieve Regional III Pool Player 2007-2008; and

WHEREAS, not only showcasing her extraordinary talent on the playing field with her mind-boggling and eye-catching swiftness and versatility, Ashley is equally spectacular in academics, boasting a 3.7 GPA and earning 20 on the ACT, that when combined have paved the way to earn and sign a scholarship letter of intent to play at Iowa State, where she plans to major in pre-medicine; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence in the youth of our state, who are its future and who bring great honor and pride to their family, community and state through their academic and athletic success, as evidenced by Miss Johnson:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the athletic accomplishments of Ashley Johnson of the Gautier High School Lady Gators Soccer Team and congratulate her upon being named the Sun Herald's Soccer Player of the Year.

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