Florida Senate - 2011                            (NP)    SR 2178
       
       
       
       By Senators Gaetz and Evers
       
       
       
       
       4-03362A-11                                           20112178__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the Pensacola State College
    3         Lady Pirates women’s basketball team.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, the Pensacola State College Lady Pirates women’s
    6  basketball team recently competed in the National Junior College
    7  Athletic Association National Championship Tournament in Salina,
    8  Kansas, after spending most of the year ranked first in the
    9  national polls, and
   10         WHEREAS, the Pensacola State College Lady Pirates finished
   11  the National Junior College Athletic Association National
   12  Championship Tournament with a third-place national ranking, and
   13         WHEREAS, the Pensacola State College Lady Pirates completed
   14  the season with a phenomenal 35 wins and 1 loss, winning a
   15  college record of 34 straight games and earning their first trip
   16  to nationals since 1985, and
   17         WHEREAS, the Pensacola State College Lady Pirates were
   18  undefeated in regular season play in the Panhandle Conference
   19  and in the Florida State College Athletic Association State
   20  Championship Tournament, winning the Florida State Championship,
   21  and
   22         WHEREAS, Lady Pirates Coach Chanda Rigby was named
   23  Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year and State of Florida
   24  Coach of the Year for her outstanding leadership, and
   25         WHEREAS, Lady Pirates player Jessica Merritt was named a
   26  First-Team All-American, as well as First-Team All-State, All
   27  Conference, and Florida State Tournament Most Valuable Player,
   28  and
   29         WHEREAS, Lady Pirate player Meghan Perkins was named a
   30  First-Team All-American, was a member of the All-National
   31  Tournament Team, and was named Player of the Year by the Florida
   32  State College Athletic Association and Panhandle Conference
   33  Player of the Year, as well as All-State, All-Panhandle
   34  Conference Player, and was an All-State Tournament Player, and
   35         WHEREAS, the Pensacola State College Lady Pirates
   36  represented this state in the National Junior College Athletic
   37  Association National Tournament with wins over Malcolm X
   38  College, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and Northern Oklahoma
   39  Community College, losing only to Northern Idaho Community
   40  College, and
   41         WHEREAS, Pensacola State College Lady Pirates players
   42  Brandy Broome, Meghan Perkins, Jessica Merritt, Ashley Olvera,
   43  Natalie Burke, Tawanna Lee, Najat Ouardad, Patricia Bright,
   44  Darnisha Hamilton, Jenisha Jackson, and Karneshia Garrett
   45  represented Pensacola State College, the Florida Panhandle
   46  Conference, and the State of Florida with outstanding athletic
   47  teamwork, superior sportsmanship, and collegiate distinction,
   48  and
   49         WHEREAS, Lady Pirates Karneshia Garrett, Najat Ouardad,
   50  Meghan Perkins, and Jessica Merritt were named to the All
   51  Panhandle Conference Team, with Lady Pirates Brandy Broome,
   52  Tawanna Lee, Ashley Olvera, and Darnisha Hamilton named to the
   53  All-Panhandle Conference Second Team, and
   54         WHEREAS, the success of the Lady Pirates basketball team
   55  would not have been possible without the dedication and
   56  enthusiastic support of Assistant Coaches Kayla Ard and LaToya
   57  Thomas, staff members Verdine Warner, Deb Lee, Marcie Grace, and
   58  John Noski, Pensacola State College Athletic Director Bill
   59  Hamilton, Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows, Student
   60  Services Vice President Tom Gilliam, Pensacola State College
   61  cheerleaders Emily L. Burkett, Showalter D. Cooper, Rebecca A.
   62  Fenn, Kelsey L. Gibson, Ariel A. Henry, Bradley M. NeSmith,
   63  Patricia L. Pyle, Holly C. Spencer, Porscha R. Tucker, and
   64  Lindsey L. Yeagle, Cheerleading Coach La Rita J. Carter, and all
   65  Pensacola State College Lady Pirates basketball fans from
   66  Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, NOW, THEREFORE,
   67  
   68  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   69  
   70         That the members of the Florida Senate recognize the
   71  Pensacola State College Lady Pirates women’s basketball team for
   72  a championship season and do hereby commend the players,
   73  coaches, and staff for their outstanding play in the National
   74  Junior College Athletic Association National Championship
   75  Tournament.