Bill Text: MS SR9 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Congratulate Stone County High School Senior Golfer Carissa Hester for winning regional and state titles.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-20 - Referred To Rules [SR9 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SR9-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Seymour
Senate Resolution 9
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING STONE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LADY CATS SENIOR GOLFER CARISSA HESTER FOR WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION 5A DISTRICT, REGIONAL AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, we recognize a Stone County High School golfer who won "Gold on the Green"; and
WHEREAS, for the first time in school history, a Stone County High School Lady Cats senior has won both the regional and state championship titles in golf; and
WHEREAS, Golfer Carissa Hester battled to pull off the 5A MHSAA Golf State Championship win on October 22, 2024; and
WHEREAS, "We had high expectations," golf coach Austin Miller said of Hester's win. Miller knew Hester could win, but she had to play at her best. "We know there would be good competition. The highest-rated players going into the tournament ended up battling it out;" and
WHEREAS, Carissa kept herself humble and realistic coming onto the green. She did not want to over or underestimate the course. "I think I played pretty good," Hester said. "I would say I just kept calm"; and
WHEREAS, Hester's fourth appearance at the state championship was her first time winning it. "She had a four-shot advantage after the first round, and then won the tournament by three," Coach Miller said. Hester said seeing her competition win year after year motivated her to win even more. "I was just really excited because it was my senior year and I've never had the state title before," Hester said; and
WHEREAS, Hester started playing golf in eighth grade but did not become competitive with the sport until her freshman year. "I've grown very fast. I've taken a lot of lessons, and I've worked hard for this. So I do really feel like I deserve this," she said. Competing over two days, the tournament consisted of two rounds of an 18-hole golf course at the 400-acre, par 72 Whispering Pines Golf Course in Moss Point, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Hester led the singles competition with a par-73 on the first day and a par-78 on the second. Coach Miller said Hester was the anchor of the Lady Cats team. "My eighth graders played well, but it's all about the experience," Miller said. The Lady Cats golf team has four players: eighth graders Ella-Rose Smith and Layla Parker and seniors Carissa Hester and Addison Cabe; and
WHEREAS, this season was the last season for Hester and Cabe. Hester advised the upcoming team, "They just need to get out and play golf, and when bad days come, it happens; you just got to push through." Coach Miller said the team is going to state, and there is a lot of excitement in girls' golf. On November 12, Hester, along with Bryce Fairley of the boys' golf team, played in the All-Star Golf Tournament at the Azaleas at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia, Mississippi, competing against 38 other all-star finalists; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend a young Mississippi athlete who has brought honor to her golf team, her school, her community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Stone County High School Lady Cats Senior Golfer Carissa Hester for winning the MHSAA 5A District, Regional and State Championship, and extend our best wishes for future success on the golf course and in her college career.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Carissa Hester and her family, forwarded to Coach Austin Miller and the Stone County Board of Education and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
