[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THOMASVILLE TOPS IN SOCCER, TOO

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, Thomasville High School, located in the Sixth 
District of North Carolina, is known as a football powerhouse in our 
state. The Bulldogs have captured two straight high school football 
championships and six overall. In fact, the school is renowned for its 
entire athletic program. Last year, the school won three state titles, 
two for men's and women's basketball and one for the football team. Now 
it can add another state championship trophy in its overflowing display 
case--the men's soccer team won the school's first-ever title in that 
sport. On November 19, 2005, the Bulldogs soccer team defeated Manteo 
4-3 in sudden-death overtime at the SAS Soccer complex in Cary, North 
Carolina.
  ``It's just an unbelievable feeling,'' third-year head coach Robert 
Yates told The Thomasville Times. ``Just to make the playoffs, and then 
to get to the state championship game, and then to win it like that in 
sudden-death overtime, it's hard to describe.'' The player who was a 
team leader all year--Walter Cruz--came through again in the sudden-
death overtime period to score the game-winning goal. Cruz, who earned 
the Most Valuable Player award for the game, told The Thomasville 
Times, ``I can't explain the things that I feel. We made history in 
Thomasville High School soccer.''
  Joining Cruz in the history-making march to the title were teammates 
Rogaciano Augilar, Danny Alvarado, Adam Beasley, Eder Calva, Miguel 
Chavez, Adrian Hidalgo, Ji Soo Noh, Joel Ramirez, Roman Ramos, Jose 
Rios, Edberg Rodriguez, Yefrey Salazar, Victor Sanchez, Daniel 
Sandoval, Eloi Solis, Joel Torres, Zach Upton, Lazaro Vazquez, Marco 
Villa, and Rich Weaver.
  Congratulations to head coach Yates, his assistant coach Martin 
Stanich and community volunteer George Solis, athletic director Woody 
Huneycutt, principal Dirk Gurley, the faculty, staff, students, 
parents, and fans of Thomasville High School on the first-ever soccer 
championship in school history. Thomasville has proved that in addition 
to football and basketball, the Bulldogs are tops in soccer, too.

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