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Bailey, House honor Oak Harbor Wildcats teams
Champion football and cheerleader teams recognized
for accomplishments
Lawmakers in the House of
Representatives gave a standing ovation to the Oak Harbor High School
Wildcats football and cheerleaders teams Wednesday after adopting a
resolution by
Rep.
Barbara Bailey honoring the state and national champions.
Both teams were watching
from the galleries in the House chamber as
Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, presented
House Resolution 4608.
"On a Saturday night in
December, two teams met head-to-head in the Tacoma Dome, competing in
the Class 4A state football playoffs. In a showdown of two evenly
matched teams, one team bounced back from some costly mistakes, played
tough defense all night, and in a game that ended 21 to 14, walked away
as the state champions. I’m proud to say that football team was the Oak
Harbor High School Wildcats," said Bailey.
"Our team not only
captured the state 4A championship, it also captured the heart of an
entire community," she added. "Oak Harbor is not a big town, maybe 20
thousand in the city and another 20 thousand in the surrounding
countryside. Yet, more than five thousand fans made the trip to the Tacoma
Dome to watch their team achieve its dream of the state title."
Bailey noted that the 40
members of the football team represented the school and community with
class, showing none of the bravado one would expect after winning so
many games.
"After every game, they
gave thanks for their good fortune, and then began concentrating on the
next hurdle. They not only had great sportsmanship, they had character. And
everyone could see and feel it," noted Bailey. "Even after winning the
'Big One,' they celebrated. But there was none of the self-congratulations
you might expect. None of the ego. Instead, they went back to business.
The business of books and schooling. And that’s what makes this team and
its coach, Dave Ward, champions."
Bailey also gave
recognition to the Wildcats' cheerleader squad, which won the national
championship last spring in Anaheim, California, competing against the
best squads from around the country.
"These students are
champions because they not only work hard as athletes, they also work
hard in their academics. They understand that leadership
and academics go hand-in-hand with athleticism," said Bailey. "They were
champs from the very beginning. Their greatness was inside them all
along. Great students, who put it all together, with the help of great
coaches and role models, and with the support of a town I’m proud to
call my community – Oak Harbor, Washington."
The resolution was adopted
unanimously.
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For more information, contact: John
Sattgast, Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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