House Resolution 21

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE KOSSUTH HIGH SCHOOL AGGIES CHEERLEADING TEAM AND SPONSOR RENEE TURNER FOR WINNING THE 2014 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION STATE CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, proving hard work and diligence are the keys to success, the Kossuth High School Cheer Squad competed against seven other squads in the 2014 Mississippi High School Activities Association Cheer and Dance Competition, and after a superb performance, they captured the State Cheerleading Championship on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, to claim their fourth state cheerleading title, the Kossuth High School Cheerleaders solidified their rise to championship status and claimed the prestigious honor by reaching the state championship competition and achieving first place honors in the 1-3A Tumbling Division for Cheer; and

WHEREAS, under the superb leadership of Sponsor Renee Turner, who refined their skills in execution, acrobatics and dance during her three and one-half year tenure, the team did an exceptional job of covering each other's faults, unifying all of their strengths to make a good squad, and they did an outstanding job working toward the accomplishment of this highly pursued goal; and

WHEREAS, during the competition, the cheerleaders performed a routine to precision for the judges that was choreographed by Darren Kersting, which consisted of tumbling and difficult stunts designed for their strong points, and they nailed the routine with their best-ever performance of it; and

WHEREAS, during the state championship competition, each cheer squad was intensely judged on the following criteria: the cleanliness of the routine, difficulty and execution (stunts, dance, pyramid and tumbling) and how well and loud they performed their cheers; and

WHEREAS, during this special season, the Kossuth High School cheerleaders worked extremely hard to succeed, learning and perfecting football and basketball cheers for the games because the cheerleaders were also graded on how easy their cheers were to follow, which made the cheers a very crucial one-third of the score; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Kossuth High School cheerleading squad, who constantly impressed Turner with their sincere displays of professionalism and self-discipline are: Madison Parks (captain), Madison Switcher (captain), Mckayla Bradley (captain), Easton Shadburn, Katie Beth Newcomb, Lindsey Newman, Hailey Hodum, Kasey Mckee, Carleigh Holt, Suzanne Rhodes, Kaylee Lee, Baillie Lancaster, Lauren Beard, Ainsley Renfrow, Shelby Phillips, Anna Kate Gaines, Darbie Coleman, Tyler Sue Hajek, Kristen Devers (mascot), Darren Kersting (choreographer), Renee Turner (sponsor) and Gina Rogers Smith (superintendent); and

WHEREAS, described by their coach as prayer warriors that "truly believe in the power of prayer," the squad, who was "just so excited for the opportunity to compete," and many of their parents were overwhelmed to the point of tears after learning of their victory; and

WHEREAS, the Aggies Cheerleaders have practiced and worked together for many hours in the pursuit of excellence and have shown a high degree of sportsmanship while representing the State of Mississippi at all levels of competition, and through their superior accomplishments, these Magnolia State student athletes have brought honor to themselves and to Kossuth High School; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding student athletes such as the Kossuth High School Aggies Cheerleading Team:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Kossuth High School Aggies Cheerleading Team and Sponsor Renee Turner for winning the 2014 Mississippi High School Activities Association State Cheerleading Championship, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Kossuth High School, Sponsor Renee Turner, Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.