HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4645, by Representatives Riccelli, Shea, Pellicciotti, Holy, Volz, Rodne, Nealey, Ormsby, MacEwen, Steele, Stonier, Sells, Kilduff, Ryu, McCaslin, Kristiansen, Orwall, Chapman, Lovick, Santos, Dolan, Orcutt, Reeves, Gregerson, Johnson, Senn, Slatter, Frame, and Harris

WHEREAS, The Gonzaga University men's basketball team completed the NCAA Division 1 2016-2017 season with 37 victories, a feat only nine teams have accomplished, and advanced to the National Championship matchup against North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, A Pacific Northwest team has not advanced to the championship since 1958; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Mark Few earned the title of 2017 Naismith and Associated Press Men's College Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Coach Few has led the Zags into the NCAA tournament in each of his 17 years as head coach. Coach Few's other accomplishments include fifteen West Coast Conference titles, five Sweet 16 appearances, two Elite Eight competitions, one Final Four matchup, and a National Championship game; and

WHEREAS, The 2016-2017 Gonzaga men's basketball team had the best defense in the nation, and won more games and scored more points than any previous Gonzaga team; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga earned multiple number one rankings, including first in the ESPN Basketball Power Index, as well as a number 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga University student athletes have the third-highest Graduation Success Rate among all Division I schools in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss was selected to the Wooden Award's 10-player All-America team and also received the Elite 90 Award for being the top academic achiever of any player in the Final Four; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga's Przemek Karnowski finished his career as the NCAA Division I's all-time wins leader with 137, won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, and made the WCC All-Academic team; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga has repeatedly committed to a culture of sportsmanship, academic excellence, and dedicated performance on the court; and

WHEREAS, The Zags' reputation as a team of close, resilient, and elite athletes made them a dominating powerhouse all the way to the National Championship game; and

WHEREAS, These extraordinary achievements have been supported by the community of Gonzaga University student body, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, family, benefactors, and fans from throughout the State of Washington; and

WHEREAS, The raucous Kennel Club, Gonzaga's famed student section, has helped the Zags men's basketball team to a record of 177 wins at home, and traveled near and far in large numbers to support their team;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its thanks and great pride to the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Gonzaga University basketball for their excellence in achievement both on and off the court; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the value and dedication of student athletes and the excitement and energy of collegiate athletics as a reflection of community pride and support; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the President of Gonzaga University, the Athletic Director of Gonzaga University, the coach of the Gonzaga University Bulldogs men's basketball team, and to each team member.