HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2000-4773, by Representatives Wensman, Tokuda, Santos and O'Brien

       WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Legislature to honor excellence in every field of endeavor; and

       WHEREAS, The O'Dea High School Boys Swim Team won the 2000 AAA Washington State Swim Championship; and

       WHEREAS, The O'Dea High School Boys AAA Swim Team State Championship participants were Ross Buffington, Isaac Burdick, Nathan Burdick, Joel DiCola, Kailean Gorman, Matt Lumb-Mielke, Alex Lykken, Chris Monson, Derek Punsalan, Rod Rombauer, Matt Van Winkle, and Michael Wensman; and

       WHEREAS, The O'Dea Irish swimmers have exemplified to their classmates the success that is possible in any field of endeavor when clear goals are established and when persistent effort is made towards those goals;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor and congratulate the O'Dea High School Swim Team for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice in achieving this significant accomplishment; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Head Coach Tom Schutte and Assistant Coaches Ed Artis and Mary Meyer be recognized for their leadership; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Head Coach Tom Schutte be recognized for being named "Coach of the Year" by his peers; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Team Captains Ross Buffington, Chris Monson, and Michael Wensman be recognized for their leadership; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That O'Dea swimmer Ross Buffington be recognized for being named "Swimmer of the Year," setting records in the 200 freestyle and the 500 free; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the teachers, classmates, and parents of the team members be recognized for the important part they played in helping these student athletes excel; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to the O'Dea High School Principal, Br. D.D. Murray, and Athletic Director, Monte Kohler, and to each of the coaches and members of the O'Dea High School Boys Swim Team that participated on the State Championship Swim Team.

       I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

       Resolution 4773 adopted by the House of Representatives

                         February 29, 2000.

________________________________       _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk    Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk