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2011 SPECIAL SESSION I

11200034D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5007
Offered April 4, 2011
Commending the St. Christopher's School wrestling team on winning its tenth consecutive VISAA State Championship.
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Patrons-- Janis, Loupassi, Howell, W.J., Massie and Peace; Senator: McEachin
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Unanimous consent to introduce
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WHEREAS, on February 19, 2011, the St. Christopher’s High School Varsity wrestling team won its tenth consecutive Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Championship, prevailing over Liberty Christian by a score of 234 to 198; and

WHEREAS, despite graduating six starting seniors in 2010, including two All-Americans, and despite pre-season predictions that they could not complete their quest for a tenth state title, the St. Christopher’s wrestlers entered the VISAA Tournament fresh off a series of strong individual and team performances down the stretch; and

WHEREAS, nine Saints grapplers, including three VISAA champions, placed in the top five of their weight classes to help outdistance the field at the VISAA State Championships, and more importantly, the margin of victory was secured through the perseverance and effort of all Saints wrestlers, with 13 out of 14 Saints scoring wins and earning points for the cause; and 

WHEREAS, culminating a season where he won the Big Blue, the Virginia All-Prep League, and the St. Alban’s Invitational, sophomore Robert Janis (130) brought home his first VISAA State title, with a solid 7 - 3 decision over Ike Podell of North Cross, having blitzed through the field, scoring two pins, a technical fall, and a forfeit to reach the finals, and bringing his season record to 44 - 9; and

WHEREAS, senior David Wesley (152) wrestled one of his finest matches of the season, pulling off a third period reversal to defeat Woodberry Forest's Duke Pickett 3 - 1, thereby winning his second straight VISAA championship, breaking the school’s career wins record with 206, and joining Zach Rolfe ’06 as only the second St. Christopher's wrestler in history to place in the VISAA five times; and

WHEREAS, in steady, workmanlike style, junior Quent Alcorn (171), secured a hard fought 9 - 3 state title victory in the finals over Liberty Christian's Titus Glaz, capping an impressive tournament run; and

WHEREAS, the ever-reliable Trey Tarr (160) finished in second place, and Andy Pitts (125) and Marshall Hollerith (189) earned third place in their respective weight classes; and

WHEREAS, in a foretaste of future glory, unseeded sophomore upstart Josh Setliff (135) pinned the number four and number five seeded wrestlers en route to his state medal, joining senior Ben Thompson (285) in fourth; and

WHEREAS, William Kelly (103) ended a solid freshman season by defeating Benedictine's Dallas Wood for the fourth time this year to finish in 5th place; and

WHEREAS, the St. Christopher’s team could not have secured its record-breaking tenth VISAA title without the gritty determination and effort of each member of the team, namely Matt MacLeod (112) who posted a 3 - 2 record with two pins and a decision, William Cabell (145) who went 2 - 2, Stokes Robertson (119) and Carter Rise (215) each of whom scored points for the Saints; and

WHEREAS, eight Saints qualified for the 76th Annual National Preps Tournament on February 26, 2011, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where the team placed 18th in the nation, with three Saints earning the title of “All-American”; and

WHEREAS, David Wesley ended his brilliant high school career with a third All-American medal, placing third in the nation by beating Woodberry Forest's Duke Pickett 2 - 1 in the consolation finals in the fifth meeting between two of the top wrestlers in Virginia, and Wesley heads to the University of Virginia with an incredible 55 - 6 season record and an overall career record of 210 - 34; and

WHEREAS, in the capstone to his final season in a St. Christopher's uniform, Trey Tarr finished 7th in the nation, posting a 4 - 2 record at Nationals for his first All-American finish, and ending his senior year with a 53 - 10 record and 154 - 39 for his career; and

WHEREAS, Robert Janis finished 8th in the Nation, going 3 - 3 in the Nationals, to finish his sophomore season with a 47 - 12 record and his first All-American title; and

WHEREAS, William Kelly (103), Andy Pitts (125), Josh Setliff (135), Quent Alcorn (171), Marshall Hollerith (189), and Ben Thompson (285) all improved and gained valuable experience at Nationals, culminating yet another historic season for the St. Christopher’s program; and

WHEREAS, the historic performance of the St. Christopher’s School wrestling team is a tribute to the inspiration, vision, and leadership of Head Coach John Gordon in his debut season at the helm of the Saints Wrestling Dynasty; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the St. Christopher’s School wrestling team on winning its tenth consecutive Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Championship; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Head Coach John Gordon as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the championship performance of the St. Christopher’s School wrestling team.