SLS 21RS-316 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 27
BY SENATOR HEWITT
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the Pope John Paul II High School boys soccer team for
winning the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV state championship.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Pope John Paul II High School boys soccer team upon winning the 2021
3 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV state championship.
4 WHEREAS, on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the number one (No. 1) seed Pope
5 John Paul II boys soccer team defeated the number six (No. 6) seed Episcopal High School
6 of Baton Rouge by a score of 2-1 at Strawberry Stadium on the campus of Southeastern
7 Louisiana University to complete a historical season; and
8 WHEREAS, senior Michael Tymkiw and junior Shawn Riviere scored the two
9 winning goals for the Pope John Paul II Jaguars; and
10 WHEREAS, junior Lincoln Oertling was named the Most Valuable Player of the
11 championship title match; and
12 WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II finished the season with a record of 18-4-2, scoring
13 forty-four goals and holding their opponents to sixteen goals with thirteen shutouts; and
14 WHEREAS, the state championship title was the first boys soccer state championship
15 in the school's forty-one year history; and
16 WHEREAS, the Pope John Paul II Jaguars defeated Westminster Christian Academy
17 7-0 in the second round after earning a bye in the first round; and
18 WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II went on to host defending state champion, Isidore
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SLS 21RS-316 ORIGINAL
1 Newman, for the quarterfinals on Mardi Gras Day at Pope John Paul II in frigid
2 temperatures; and
3 WHEREAS, the Jaguars had a record turnout from students and the Slidell
4 community to cheer them on as they defeated the Greenies 2-0 for the second time in 2021;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, the Jaguars then hosted their district rivals and 2019 state champions,
7 Northlake Christian, for the semifinals match at Pope John Paul II and the Jaguars again
8 emerged victorious with a 2-0 win in front of a very excited home crowd; and
9 WHEREAS, the 2021 state championship was a culmination of an outstanding
10 season that began with the Jaguars finishing as runner-up in the prestigious COPA Acadiana
11 Tournament's Premier Orange Division as the Jags earned the No. 1 seed by playing a
12 challenging season made of first class soccer programs, many which are much larger
13 schools, including Mandeville High, St. Louis Catholic, E.D. White, North Vermilion,
14 Newman, and many more; and
15 WHEREAS, the Jaguars had been eliminated in the previous two seasons in the
16 Quarterfinals which served as a motivation, but also presented a hurdle to overcome both
17 physically and mentally; and
18 WHEREAS, the Jaguars were recognized prior to the first kickoff of the season by
19 being awarded the Team Academic Award by the United Soccer Coaches Association for
20 a team grade point average of 3.35; and
21 WHEREAS, the Pope John Paul II Jaguars were led by team captains senior Michael
22 Tymkiw and juniors Lincoln Oertling and Nicholas Barone; and
23 WHEREAS, the other contributing members to the Pope John Paul II Jaguars
24 amazing season were seniors Elliz Ortiz, Adam Lisotta, Joseph Estopinal, and Christopher
25 Kelley; juniors Shawn Riviere, Brendan Kuzminski, George Arata, Jack Everard, Patrick
26 Whitehouse, Will Adams, Wilson Varnado, Joey Hosni, and Nathan Baker; sophomores
27 Henley Oertilng, Mikey Uwaifo, Jacob Mire, and Nicholas Blum; freshman Allen Raimer,
28 Joseph Whitehouse, Landon Lott, Henry Dutriex; and eighth graders Christian Mire, Carter
29 Chiasson, Preston Mayeaux, Julian Masson, and Adam Merkle; and
30 WHEREAS, team manager Miguel Silva was integral to the success of the Pope John
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1 Paul II Jaguars season; and
2 WHEREAS, the Jaguars were coached by Head Coach Danny Clavier in his tenth
3 season at Pope John Paul II High School; coach Danny crossed the 100-win threshold this
4 season and was voted All-District Coach of the year; and
5 WHEREAS, the Jaguars were blessed to have two outstanding and dedicated
6 assistant coaches, Devin Jeanfreau was in charge of the team's technical training and Pope
7 John Paul II junior varsity team and Jason Schexnayder who was the team's goalkeeper
8 coach; and
9 WHEREAS, the team's athletic trainer, Jonah Bailey from the Louisiana Children's
10 Medical Center Group, was invaluable in maintaining the team's health and wellness; and
11 WHEREAS, appreciation is also extended to Pope John Paul II Jaguars former
12 LCMC athletic trainer, Allen Miller, for the strategic yoga sessions and continued guidance
13 he provided for recovery and strength; and
14 WHEREAS, the support of Pope John Paul II's administration was instrumental in
15 navigating a season with COVID-19 and weather challenges; and
16 WHEREAS, thanks and gratitude is owed to Principal Doug Triche, Athletic Director
17 Richard Dieduonne, and most of all, to the Jaguars number one fan, Assistant Principal
18 Kimberlie Kilroy; and
19 WHEREAS, the Jaguars senior, Michael Tymkiw, was recognized by Max Preps as
20 the National Player of the week for his performance in the Jaguars' opening playoff win;
21 Michael Tymkiw and junior Lincoln Oertling shared the District 5-IV Most Valuable Player
22 honors; junior Brendan Kuzminski was named District Offensive Co-Most Valuable Player;
23 junior Nicholas Barone shared the district Defensive Most Valuable Player award as well;
24 and rounding out the rest of the first team All-District honors were sophomores Henley
25 Oertling and Michael Uwaifo and juniors George Arata and Shawn Riviere; and
26 WHEREAS, the Jaguars recently represented Pope John Paul II High School on a
27 live stream broadcast by BBT Communications on the show "Mike's Corner" which
28 recognizes high school teams in the St. Tammany area; and
29 WHEREAS, the Jaguars and their parents collected two hundred five food items for
30 donation to the Northshore Food Bank which smashed the record previously held by St.
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1 Paul's of one hundred sixty eight items.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
3 does hereby commend the Pope John Paul II High School boys soccer team upon winning
4 the 2021 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV state championship.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
6 Pope John Paul II High School.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Angela L. De Jean.
DIGEST
SR 27 Original 2021 Regular Session Hewitt
Commends the Pope John Paul II High School boys soccer team upon winning the 2021
Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV state championship.
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