House Resolution 61

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BRADEN IVEY ON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2014 STATE GAMES OF MISSISSIPPI 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, including participation, sportsmanship, special attributes, achievements, efforts and positive attitudes; and

WHEREAS, the 2014 "Male Athlete of the Year" is Braden Ivey, a 12-year-old athlete who has accomplished more in his 12 years than most athletes do in a lifetime and has been called a prodigy by many; and

WHEREAS, this year is the second year in a row that Braden has been named "Male Athlete of the Year," and is also the first time in the State Games of Mississippi that an athlete has won the award back-to-back; and

WHEREAS, in the 2014 State Games of Mississippi, Braden became the 18 and Under Overall Grand Champion in the Martial Arts competition; and

WHEREAS, nationally, Braden took home a bronze medal in the 2014 United States Open in Las Vegas and a bronze medal in the 2014 International Cup, in addition to winning the 2014 USA NKF qualifier in West Monroe, Louisiana, with two gold medals, proving he has what it takes to successfully compete against other athletes not only in Mississippi, but in the entire nation as well; and

WHEREAS, this year, Braden qualified to be a member of the 2014 Junior Pan American Team after winning a silver medal at the elite team trial and national championship in Reno, Nevada, and represented the United States at the 2014 Junior Pan American Championships held in Lima, Peru; 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, Mississippi, then trained his son and ultimately passed on the dojo school to him, where Braden is now trained by his father; and

WHEREAS, in the past seven 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 which he has renewed 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, Georgia, and in 2010 Braden decided to take his competition to the national level where he went to his first Amateur Athletic Union National Competition where he won the National Championship for his age group; and

WHEREAS, Braden continued 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 very well by coming home as the WKC World Champion; and

WHEREAS, being a 12-year-old World Champion is easy for Braden because he has the passion and discipline it takes, training at his dojo school six days a week for four hours a day and helping his father twice a week as an instructor for children ages nine and under; and

WHEREAS, Braden, a four-time Gold Medalist for the State Games of Mississippi, is an outstanding student, 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 to 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 2014 State Games of Mississippi 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.