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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to congratulate the Southern Illinois
4 University Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars men's basketball team
5 for achieving the program's first appearance in the NCAA
6 Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, commonly known as
7 March Madness and The Big Dance; and
8 WHEREAS, The Cougars earned a coveted spot in the NCAA
9 tournament by winning their first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)
10 tournament championship as the #2 seed, upsetting the #1 seed,
11 the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks, in a
12 resounding 69 to 48 victory in the conference tournament
13 championship game; and
14 WHEREAS, The Cougars' journey to the NCAA tournament
15 showcased exceptional teamwork, dedication, and resilience,
16 reflecting the spirit of competitive excellence; and
17 WHEREAS, The players, coaches, and support staff of the
18 SIUE Cougars have brought immense pride and recognition to the
19 university and the entire State of Illinois; and
20 WHEREAS, Their achievement serves as an inspiration to
21 aspiring athletes and demonstrates the power of hard work and
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1 perseverance; and
2 WHEREAS, The SIUE Cougars' participation in the NCAA
3 tournament provides a platform to showcase the talent and
4 spirit of Illinois collegiate athletics on a national stage;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, The Cougars roster includes players Ring Malith,
7 Jordan Pickett, Desmond Polk, Ray'Sean Taylor, Darrion Baker,
8 Declan Dillon, Jordan Hamilton, Brian Taylor II, Raynard
9 Horry, Myles Thompson, Cham Okey, Kyle Thomas, Jo Valrie,
10 Arnas Sakenis, and Eddiean Tirado; and
11 WHEREAS, The Cougars coaching staff is led by Head Coach
12 Brian Barone and features assistant coaches Colin Schneider,
13 Ryan Hellenthal, Angres Thorpe, Jay Bradley, and Mike Waldo,
14 as well as support staff members Connor Piskin, Romello
15 Wilbert, and Aidan Hall; therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
17 HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18 we congratulate the SIUE Cougars men's basketball team on its
19 outstanding victory in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament
20 and its qualification for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's
21 Basketball Tournament; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That we commend the players, coaches, and
2 support staff for their dedication, hard work, and
3 sportsmanship; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That we extend our best wishes to the SIUE
5 Cougars for a successful and memorable appearance in the NCAA
6 tournament; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
8 presented to SIUE Chancellor Dr. James T. Minor, Athletic
9 Director Andrew Gavin, and the SIUE Cougars men's basketball
10 team as a symbol of our respect and esteem.
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