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TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE LIMESTONE COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE TEAM AND COACHES FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2015 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA) CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that the members of the Limestone College men's lacrosse team of Cherokee County captured the top national honors at the NCAA Division II lacrosse competition held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, May 24, 2015; and
Whereas, Limestone fans who traveled to see the team play in Philadelphia were not disappointed as the City of Brotherly Love yielded a 9-6 victory for the Saints over Le Moyne College; and
Whereas, in nine appearances in the national championship game, the Saints have garnered four national lacrosse titles, but the last two were the first back-to-back national titles for Limestone. Their title in 2000 had made Limestone the smallest coeducational institution to win a national championship; and
Whereas, the Saints recorded a stellar 11-1 season against nationally ranked opponents, setting program records in points (552), goals (358), assists (194), man-up goals (42), ground balls (866), caused turnovers (190), and faceoff winning percentage; and
Whereas, with a 20-1 overall record, Limestone led the nation in scoring offense, points, points per game, assists, assists per game, faceoff winning percentage, ground balls, ground balls per game, scoring margin, and winning percentage; and
Whereas, the 2015 team featured eight All-American selections: Mike Messenger, Kevin Reisman, Kyle Rhatigan, Reid Reinholdt, Peter Papaleonti, Tyler Gaulton, Patrick Sheridan, Vinny Ricci; and
Whereas, sophomore Kevin Reisman led the nation in faceoff wins, faceoff winning percentage, ground balls, and ground balls per game, and he received the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Division II men's lacrosse; and
Whereas, junior Mike Messenger was NCAA Division II statistical champion in goals scored, leading the country with fifty-five goals, and was named the National Championship Game's Most Outstanding Player, scoring three goals in the fourth quarter of the National Championship Game to lead a come-from-behind win; and
Whereas, having taken seventeen consecutive regular season conference titles, Limestone College has set the bar high for the sport of lacrosse in the South, inaugurating the first collegiate lacrosse program in the Palmetto State twenty-five years ago; and
Whereas, Limestone fans are already prophesying a third straight championship for the Saints, who only played two seniors in last year's championship game and who have a seasoned team of underclassmen returning for this spring's season; and
Whereas, now in his sixth season as head coach, J. B. Clarke was named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach Carroll Kennedy was named the division's Assistant Coach of the Year; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly values the respect and recognition that the Limestone lacrosse players have brought to their college and to the Palmetto State, and the members look to hear of their continued success in the days ahead. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Limestone College men's lacrosse team and coaches for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship title.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach J. B. Clarke.
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