House Concurrent Resolution 60

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SIMPSON COUNTY ACADEMY LADY COUGARS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SEASON AND FOR WINNING THE 2017 MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (MAIS) DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Simpson County Academy Lady Cougars Cross Country Team finished the 2017 season in an outstanding fashion, reigning victorious at the 2017 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Division II State Championship; and

WHEREAS, opening the cross country season on August 28, 2017, at the Jackson Academy Invitational, the Lady Cougars finished 7th with a team average of 19:32 for the 4K, and that day would be the first and the last time during the season that the Lady Cougars were defeated by anyone in their division, as they raced again on September 11, 2017, at the Jackson Prep Invitational, finishing 6th right ahead of Lamar School, and for the next four meets, the Lady Cougars held a 5th place overall team finish and were second to none among Division II schools; and

WHEREAS, at the Cathedral Cross Country Invitational, the team raced under the Junior Varsity Division and won with 17 points over Silliman Institute, who finished with 81 points, and the win at Cathedral foreshadowed what was to come on October 24, 2017, at the MAIS AMA Division II Overall Varsity State Meet, where the Lady Cougars won with 46 points and improved their team average by over a minute, averaging a time of 18:23 for the 4K; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Cougars were coached by Head Coach Emily Craft and the team is comprised of the following outstanding student athletes: 6th graders, Callie Grace Clayburn and Claire Mitchell; 7th graders, Carson Carter, Elliot Rankin, Bailey Blakeney, Mary Madelyn Grubbs, Emma Wallace and Emma Overstreet; 8th graders, Cameron Bishop and Mary Margaret Rankin; and 9th graders, Blair Smith and Mary Margaret White; with Carson Carter and Mary Margaret Rankin being named to the All-State team; and

WHEREAS, Coach Craft noted that the girls worked tremendously hard this season and remained dedicated to the goal, proving that they not only knew how to run well, but also how to race well, which is what made them champions, and the Lady Cougars steadily improved both their overall team average and team finish throughout the 2017 cross country season, which lead to their outstanding finish at the MAIS Division II State Championship; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize fine student athletes such as the members of the Simpson County Academy Lady Cougars Cross Country Team, who have brought honor to their school, their community 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 members of the Simpson County Academy Lady Cougars Cross Country Team for their outstanding season and for winning the 2017 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Division II State Championship and extend sincere wishes for continued success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Emily Craft for the team, to Simpson County Academy Headmaster Billy W. Hankins and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.