A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Fort Mill High school boys swim TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2023 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Fort Mill swim team of York County took home the state title from the state competition at the University of South Carolina Natatorium on Monday, October 16, 2023; and

Whereas, with the gratitude of their exuberant fans, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets handily defeated other AAAAA teams from around the State to capture the South Carolina state trophy with a score of 349.5.  Their nearest competitor and last year's state champion, Wando High School, scored a 298.  The boys' victory was made all the sweeter because the Fort Mill girls' swim team also won their state title; and

Whereas, in a disappointing ruling of the officials, the Yellow Jackets were disqualified in the first relay, the 200-yard medley, but the swimmers responded as they had all year, motivated to produce even faster times in their other events; and

Whereas, Fort Mill created an energetic comeback that posted eleven of the top-ten finishes for individual events, with four of those eleven in the 100-yard freestyle alone.  The Yellow Jackets also recorded two of the top-five relay finishes; and

Whereas, the team took the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, with swimmers Jack Dollyhigh, Owen Fey, Dominic Impens, and Turner Wiand; and

Whereas, in a sport that demands speed, precision, and focus, Head Coach Cindy Van Buskirk, Fort Mill's sixteen-year veteran swim coach, and her proficient coaching staff capitalized on their own athletic ability and training to produce a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both in and out of the lanes; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the respect and credit that the Fort Mill swimmers have brought to their school and their community and look forward to hearing of their future success in the days ahead.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Fort Mill High School boys swim team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2023 South Carolina Class AAAAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Zachary Beam and Coach Cindy Van Buskirk.

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