HR0302 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Oswego High School Panthers boys varsity basketball team finished second in the 2008-2009 Illinois High School Association 3A State Basketball Tournament and claimed the school's first State trophy in basketball; and

WHEREAS, The Oswego High School basketball team attained a 11-3 record in the Southwest Prairie Conference; the team ended the 2008-2009 season with a 26-7 record; and

WHEREAS, Kevin Schnable coached the Oswego High School basketball team to the State championship game, where they lost 61-59 to Centennial (Champaign) High School; the team went 6-1 in the tournament playoffs; and

WHEREAS, Oswego reached the championship game after Oswego senior guard Jordan Mitchell's clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer led his team to a 56-55 win over Leo (Chicago, Illinois) in the State Tournament's semi-final game; and

WHEREAS, During the final game of the State championship, team members Mitchell and Ziemnik made many 3-pointers; team member Galow made many assists; Kwiatkowski secured clutch rebounds in an epic game between Oswego and Champaign Centennial; and

WHEREAS, The Panthers' season ended with a 26-7 record and the best finish in Oswego High School's basketball history; and

WHEREAS, Oswego High School led the Southwest Prairie Conference with 2,097 points during the 2008-2009 season and established itself as a powerhouse in the conference; and

WHEREAS, The student-athletes who led the Panthers to their second place finish in the IHSA Class 3A Boys State Basketball Tournament are Ryan West, Danny Bruzdzinski, Brett Baumgartner, Bukky Adeofe, Andrew Galow, James Taylor, Tyler Pence, Jordan Mitchell, Chris Bagley, Parker Meek, Joe Kwiatkowski, Andrew Ziemnik, Collin Seibert, Paul Cahill, DeAndre Mitchell, and Team Manager Alex "Gator" Gates; and

WHEREAS, The IHSA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Runners-up were led by Head Coach Kevin Schnable and Assistant Coaches Matt Borrowman, Jim Bagley, Mike Hettinger, Mike Schnable, Tim Taviani, Jeff Henrikson, Mike Anderson, and Joe Sweeney; the team was additionally assisted by videographer George Bailey, bus driver Dave Sutcliff, and athletic trainers Brian Cronin and Michelle Knizner; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Dr. David Behlow, Principal Mike Wayne, Assistant Principals Dr. Nancy Chibe and Craig Watson, Athletic Director Steve McInerney, Assistant Athletic Director Greg Scott, Mark Johnson, and Athletic Administrative Assistant Sarah Miller made the 2008-2009 season for the Panthers possible; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and applaud the 2008-2009 Oswego High School Panthers boys basketball team for their accomplishments during the 2008-2009 season, for their talent and teamwork displayed on the court, and for the outstanding coaching staff that led the team to the State Championship game and brought the team to a fantastic conclusion as the State runner-up in the boys Class 3A tournament; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Oswego High School Athletic Director Steve McInerney, Head Coach Kevin Schnable, Oswego Principal Mike Wayne, and the entire Oswego High School boys basketball team and coaching staff.