TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WILSON HALL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2015 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Wilson Hall cross country team of Sumter County took top honors at the state competition; and

Whereas, to the delight of their exuberant fans, the regional champion Wilson Hall Baron cross country team bested the Porter-Gaud School Cyclones to claim the first cross country state championship for the Barons; and

Whereas, although the Wilson Hall team has been a runner-up at the state meet six times in the last fourteen years, the trophy had eluded the Barons' grasp until the fall of 2015; and

Whereas, the top five runners for the Barons at the state meet were Andrik-Rivera Nesrala in fourth place, Drew Reynolds at ninth, Matthew Tavarez at fourteenth, Brayden Fidler at seventeenth, and Bryce Lyles at twenty-fifth; and

Whereas, after the placement for the top five finishers was totaled, Wilson Hall and Porter-Gaud were tied for first place. To break the tie, each team's sixth runner was counted, and the Barons' Rhett Howell finished in twenty-seventh place, eight places higher than Cyclones' sixth runner, to secure the title for his team; and

Whereas, the Wilson Hall Barons finished their remarkable season with a record of 72-8, and Drew Reynolds and Andrik Rivera-Nesrala were named to the All-State Team, while teammate Matthew Tavarez joined them for the All-Region Team honors; and

Whereas, in a sport that demands strategy and expertise, Head Coach Tom O'Hare and his skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and training to build a championship team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the course; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the pride and recognition that the Wilson Hall cross country runners have brought to their school and their community and look to hear of their continued achievements 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 Wilson Hall boys cross country team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2015 South Carolina Independent School Association Class AAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Headmaster Fred Moulton and Coach Tom O'Hare.