House Concurrent Resolution 96

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES CHEERLEADING TEAM AND COACH WHITNEY ALLGOOD FOR WINNING THE 2015 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION SMALL VARSITY CO-ED CHEER AND DANCE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, proving hard work and diligence are the keys to success, the Florence High School Eagles Cheerleading Team competed in the 2015 Mississippi High School Activities Association Cheer and Dance Competition, and after a flawless and electric performance, they captured the State Cheerleading Championship for the Small Varsity Co-Ed Cheer Division on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, to claim their very first state cheerleading title, the Florence High School Cheerleaders solidified their rise to championship status by utilizing the experience they gained, through various competitions in which they earned championships, including placing first at the UCA Dixie Championship, the Southern Spirit Challenge and the Mississippi State Fair; and

WHEREAS, additionally, to prepare for the championship competition, the Eagles Cheerleaders competed at the UCA Beach Club cheer camp in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where their high kicks, pleasantly audible voices and overall excellence resulted in a showering of superior ribbons and spirit sticks for the team during the week, and they returned to Florence with not only top honors from the camp, including first place in Cheer, second place in Extreme Routine, the Traditions Award and Overall Game Day Champs, the most elite honor, but also all ten seniors were named All Americans and seven seniors were honored with an invitation to be a part of the prestigious UCA staff; and

WHEREAS, under the insightful and accomplished leadership of Coach Whitney Allgood, who used her own cheering experience with Terry High School, Mississippi Cheer Elite and Delta State University, as well as her training with the National Cheerleaders Association to refine the team's skills in execution, acrobatics, gymnastics and dance, the Eagles did an exceptional job of covering each other's faults, unifying all of their strengths to make a good squad and ultimately executing an outstanding job working toward the accomplishment of this highly pursued goal; and

WHEREAS, during the state championship competition, the cheerleaders performed a routine with precision and accuracy for the judges and nailed each of their moves, which consisted of tumbling and difficult stunts designed for their strong points, and they were intensely judged on the following criteria: the cleanliness of the routine, difficulty and execution (stunts, dance, pyramid and tumbling), and how well and loud they performed their cheers; and

WHEREAS, throughout this special season, the Florence High School Cheerleaders worked extremely hard to succeed, and the ladies and men have improved exponentially in all aspects of their cheering abilities, which is largely due to their outstanding God-given talent, strong desire to win and tremendous work ethic; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Florence High School Cheerleading Team, who constantly impressed Coach Allgood with their sincere displays of professionalism and self-discipline, include: seniors, Brooke Dodd (Captain), Danyelle Lewis (Co-Captain), Courtney Jamison (Co-Captain), Bailey Turner, Brennan Boteler, Emily Daniels, Austyn Holmes, Tre Wright, Jamaal Lloyd, Roy Aguilar and Devonte Brown; juniors, Hope Metz and Kennedy Ruff; sophomores, Victoria Gray, Sydney Abernathy, Emma Wickens and Bailey Brantley; and freshmen, Macy Kate Greer, Savanna Ainsworth, Cydney Claire Ruff and Brianna Mason; and

WHEREAS, the Eagles Cheerleaders have practiced and worked together for many hours in the pursuit of greatness and have shown a high degree of sportsmanship while representing the State of Mississippi at all levels of competition, and through their superior accomplishments, these Magnolia State student athletes have brought honor to themselves and to Florence High School; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding student athletes such as the Florence High School Eagles Cheerleading Team, whose superb attitudes and unparalleled determination to reach their championship goal brought honor and glory to Florence High School and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Florence High School Eagles Cheerleading Team and Coach Whitney Allgood for winning the 2015 Mississippi High School Activities Association Small Varsity Co-Ed Cheer and Dance State Championship, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future athletic and academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Whitney Allgood, Florence High School Principal Tony Martin, the Rankin County School Board and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.