Senate Resolution 8

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL "PANTHERS" BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM AND COACH SHANNON KNOTT FOR THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, it was a total team effort from everyone wearing an "Ole Brook" racing bib November 8, 2021, at Choctaw Trails when the Brookhaven High School Boys Cross-Country Team won the Mississippi High School Activities Association 5A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, it was a third straight title, as the Panthers edged out their rivals from Saltillo High with a 26-22 score; and

WHEREAS, the top five finishers from each team are the ones whose scores count toward the point total, and the top 10 were almost exclusively members of those two teams. Brookhaven High Senior Grayson Childress (16:12.7) was the first overall finisher. Senior Sam Arnold (16:38.9) finished second overall. The third Panther across the finish line was Senior Jake Thompson (16:48.3) in third place, and Senior Trey Knott (16:59.6) finished fourth. Brookhaven High School Senior Collin Kellum (17:42.1) came in 12th overall, and Sophomore Wyatt Scott (19:43.7) was the 35th finisher out of the 111-man field; and

WHEREAS, in 2017, the Panthers beat Saltillo to win their first team title. The next year the Tigers came back to beat Brookhaven High School by a razor-thin margin. The last two years, the Panthers blew out the Tigers from Lee County and the rest of the field as they cruised to capture another title. This season Brookhaven High School went to Saltillo High and defeated their rivals on September 19 in the Saltillo Invitational. Brookhaven High School closed the season having not lost a race to a Mississippi school in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Brookhaven High School Coach Shannon Knott said, "It was possibly our best team effort. Our guys will never quit and that's what it took"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a special group of student athletes whose third championship has brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Brookhaven High School "Panthers" Boys Cross-County Team and Coach Shannon Knott for their third consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future successes.

Be it further resolved, That this resolution be presented to Coach Shannon Knott and Brookhaven High School Principal Stacy Walker, forwarded to the Brookhaven School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.