A resolution congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men's basketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Men's Division II National Championship.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 168 Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s bas- ketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Men’s Division II National Championship. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 21, 2021 Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mr. HAWLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Men’s Division II National Championship. Whereas, on March 27, 2021, the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team (in this pre- amble referred to as the ‘‘Bearcats’’) clinched their third National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Divi- sion II National Championship in 5 years in a landslide 80–54 victory over the West Texas A&M University Buf- faloes; Whereas the Bearcats should be proud of their University’s storied history dating back to the inception of the school in 1905; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR168.ATS SR168 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 168 ATS Whereas the Bearcats should be commended for their success and perseverance throughout the 2020–2021 season de- spite uncertainty during the coronavirus outbreak; Whereas the Bearcats’ victory marked the men’s basketball team’s second consecutive national championship, ce- menting the Bearcats’ place atop NCAA Division II men’s basketball; Whereas the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes should also be commended on their efforts and success through- out an unprecedented season during the COVID–19 pan- demic; Whereas the city of Evansville, Indiana, and the NCAA should be commended for their efforts in providing a safe environment for the student athletes and staff during the championship tournament; Whereas the Bearcats went 3–0 during the championship tournament with an average margin of victory of 26 points; Whereas the Bearcats clinched a first round victory against West Liberty by a score of 98–77; Whereas the Bearcats clinched a second round victory against Flagler by a score of 77–46; Whereas the Bearcats claimed their title as back-to-back na- tional champions by defeating West Texas A&M by a score of 80–54; Whereas Ryan Hawkins should be commended for his role in the Bearcats’ national championship victory by scoring a game-high 31 points while securing 18 rebounds; Whereas 3 additional starting members of the Bearcats, Wes Dreamer, Trevor Hudgins, and Luke Waters, each scored VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR168.ATS SR168 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 168 ATS in the double digits in the championship game and should be commended for their scoring efforts; Whereas Wes Dreamer and Ryan Hawkins should each be commended for achieving a double-double in the cham- pionship game by scoring and rebounding in the double digits; Whereas Ryan Hawkins and Trevor Hudgins should be cele- brated for their selection to the Elite Eight All-Tour- nament Team; Whereas Ryan Hawkins should further be recognized for being named as the Elite Eight’s Most Outstanding Play- er; Whereas the entire Bearcats roster should be commended for their 50 percent field goal percentage and 47 percent 3- point shooting; Whereas the entire Bearcats roster contributed to the na- tional championship victory, including Spencer Schomers, Diego Bernard, Jaran Richman, Isaiah Jackson, Wes Dreamer, Byron Alexander, Trevor Hudgins, Mitch Mascari, Daric Laing, Ryan Hawkins, Christian Stanislav, Luke Waters, and Daniel Abreu; Whereas the entire Bearcats coaching staff contributed to the national championship victory, including Ben McCollum, Zach Schneider, Xavier Kurth, Dray Starzl, Nick Peters, Justin Dickerson, Sam Hawley, and Landon Graver; and Whereas the Bearcats back-to-back national championships provide a sense of excitement and pride to the City of Maryville and Bearcat nation across Missouri: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR168.ATS SR168 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 168 ATS (1) congratulates the Northwest Missouri State 1 University Bearcats men’s basketball team and the 2 entire University, Mayor of Maryville Benjamin 3 Lipiec, University President Dr. John Jasinski, Gov- 4 ernor Mike Parson, and fans of the Bearcats on 5 their national championship; and 6 (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the 7 Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu- 8 tion to— 9 (A) the President of Northwest Missouri 10 State University; 11 (B) head coach Ben McCollum; and 12 (C) Mayor Benjamin Lipiec. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Apr 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR168.ATS SR168 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS