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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Mitch Thompson of McLennan Community College has |
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| 6 | 7 | | been named the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association |
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| 7 | 8 | | Division I Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches |
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| 8 | 9 | | Association after leading the Highlanders to the national |
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| 9 | 10 | | championship; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, This notable accolade follows an unforgettable |
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| 11 | 12 | | season in which the Highlanders finished with an overall record of |
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| 12 | 13 | | 47-16 and claimed conference and regional titles before earning |
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| 13 | 14 | | their first NJCAA national championship in 38 years; Coach Thompson |
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| 14 | 15 | | was also named the Bus Bergman Coach of the Tournament after the |
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| 15 | 16 | | team's exciting postseason run that ended with a 7-3 victory over |
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| 16 | 17 | | Central Arizona College on June 4; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Since taking the helm at McLennan Community College |
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| 18 | 19 | | in 2014, Coach Thompson has established himself as one of the top |
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| 19 | 20 | | coaches in the nation; he has helped the Highlanders tally more than |
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| 20 | 21 | | 300 wins and make three trips to the World Series, including a |
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| 21 | 22 | | runner-up finish in 2015 and a fifth-place showing in 2017; many of |
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| 22 | 23 | | his players have advanced to play for NCAA Division I programs, and |
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| 23 | 24 | | he was honored in 2015 as the Region V Coach of the Year and as the |
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| 24 | 25 | | Waco Tribune-Herald Sportsman of the Year after guiding McLennan to |
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| 25 | 26 | | its first regional championship in 32 years; in addition, his |
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| 26 | 27 | | athletes have excelled in the classroom, earning multiple NJCAA |
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| 27 | 28 | | All-Academic Team accolades; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Coach Thompson played baseball while pursuing his |
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| 29 | 30 | | bachelor's degree at Fort Hays State University, and he went on to |
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| 30 | 31 | | coach at Radford University, Auburn University, and Mississippi |
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| 31 | 32 | | State University, where he received his master's degree in 1991; |
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| 32 | 33 | | from 1995 to 2012, he was the hitting instructor and recruiting |
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| 33 | 34 | | coordinator at Baylor University, helping the Bears to collect |
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| 34 | 35 | | three Big 12 titles and to make an appearance in the 2005 College |
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| 35 | 36 | | World Series; he was honored as the 2006 ABCA National Assistant |
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| 36 | 37 | | Coach of the Year, and prior to taking charge of the Highlanders, he |
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| 37 | 38 | | served as a scout for the Kansas City Royals; in all his endeavors, |
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| 38 | 39 | | he enjoys the love and support of his wife, Amber, and his |
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| 39 | 40 | | daughters, Mary Conley and Caroline; and |
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| 40 | 41 | | WHEREAS, Through his leadership and expertise, Mitch |
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| 41 | 42 | | Thompson is building a tradition of baseball excellence at McLennan |
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| 42 | 43 | | Community College, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious |
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| 43 | 44 | | award; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Mitch |
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| 46 | 47 | | Thompson on his selection as the 2021 NJCAA Division I Coach of the |
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| 47 | 48 | | Year and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be |
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| 48 | 49 | | it further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for Coach Thompson as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 51 | 52 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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