House Resolution 54

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BRADEN IVEY ON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2013 STATE GAMES OF MISSISSIPPI AT&T MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, each year, the State Games of Mississippi nominates an outstanding male and female athlete from each individual sport who are chosen for merit and sportsmanship; and

WHEREAS, from 34 sports, only two athletes are chosen to receive the honor of "Athlete of the Year," and the nominated athletes personify the ideals of the State Games movement, such as participation, sportsmanship, special attributes, achievements, efforts and positive attitudes; and

WHEREAS, the State Games keeps its entry fees low primarily through the generous donations of sponsors, including Founding Gold Sponsors: Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Rush Hospital; and Gold Sponsors: AT&T, Maples Gas, City of Meridian, McDonald's, Meridian-Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau/Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Structural Steel, WTOK-TV and WMDN/WGBC-TV and the chosen "Athletes of the Year" will visit the State Capitol in Jackson, where the Governor will bestow them with a recognition of their achievement and they will have the honor and fame of lighting the torch at the 2014 Opening Ceremonies of the State Games of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the 2013 "Male Athlete of the Year" is Braden Ivey, whose determination, strength, stamina, endurance and discipline are qualities that he demonstrates every day; and

WHEREAS, Braden Ivey has accomplished more in his 11 years than most athletes do in a lifetime and he has been training in the martial arts for only six years for which he has been called a prodigy by many; and

WHEREAS, martial arts is a family affair for the Iveys, and Braden's grandfather started it all when he fell in love with the sport and opened a dojo school in Enterprise, then trained his son and passed on the dojo school to him and now Braden is being trained by his father; and

WHEREAS, in the past six years of his martial arts training his competition resumé reads like a novel: Braden became the 2007 Mississippi State Champion in his age group for the Mississippi Karate Association and he continues to defend his title and has renewed it every year, becoming a six-time "13 and Under Grand Champion"; and

WHEREAS, Braden was also the 2007 and 2008 winner in the "Battle of Atlanta" Martial Arts Tournament in Atlanta, and in 2010 Braden decided to take his competition to the national level and went to his first Amateur Athletic Union National Competition where he won the National Championship for his age group; and

WHEREAS, he continued with his winning streak in 2011 by winning the USA National Karate Foundation National Championship, and is the Tennessee State Champion for the U.S. Karate Alliance and the AAU Jr. Olympic Champion, plus the winner of many more regional and statewide titles; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, at the age of ten, he was honored to have earned a position on the Amateur Athletics USA Team and though martial arts is currently not an Olympic sport, this team is the equivalent to being the United States Olympic Team; and

WHEREAS, by competing on the AAU team, Braden was exposed to more tournaments and competed on a much higher level and continued his reign as the AAU Regional, State and National Champion, and in 2012, he also became the National Champion for the Japanese Karate Association; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, Braden had the opportunity to compete with his AAU team in Melbourne, Australia, at the World Karate Confederation Tournament and he represented his country and his dojo school from Mississippi well by coming home as the WKC World Champion; and

WHEREAS, Braden is also a three-time Gold Medalist for the State Games of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, being an 11-year-old World Champion is easy for Braden because he has the passion and discipline it takes and he trains at his dojo school six days a week for four hours a day and helps his father twice a week as an instructor for children ages nine and under and he recently received the Presidential Award for Academics at his elementary school and has been an honor roll student throughout his schooling; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives that we recognize such an outstanding young Mississippi athlete who has brought honor to his community and state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Braden Ivey on being selected as the 2013 State Games of Mississippi AT&T Male Athlete of the Year and express best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

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