A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Heathwood Hall Girls Cross Country Team, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 South Carolina Independent School Association state CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Heathwood Hall Highlanders girls cross country team of Richland County captured the team's fourth consecutive South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) state title at the state meet held at Heathwood Hall on Saturday, October 26, 2024; and

 

Whereas, to the delight of their faithful fans, the Lady Highlanders, with a score of 46 points, defeated a competitive field of ten schools and eighty-six individuals who placed in the meet; and

 

Whereas, eighth grader Dorothy Hutchins led the Lady Highlanders by taking second place with a time of 18:31.29, less than 20 seconds behind the first-place runner. Seventh grader Cate Leppard finished sixth for Heathwood with a time of 18:52.29. Freshmen Lydia Smith and Annabel Martin finished with 19:28.67 and 19:29.32, respectively, to take the twelfth and thirteenth spots for the Highlanders. Eighth grader Mary Widener was seventeenth with a time of 19:53.13; junior Lily Griswold was twenty-ninth with a time of 20:41.07, and freshmen Ouita Elliott was forty-third with a time of 22:16.84; and

 

Whereas, Heathwood girls cross country team's number one and two runners from a year ago graduated, and both are now running for the University of South Carolina, leaving quite a challenge for the 2024 season. Despite having no seniors and only one junior among the top twelve runners on the 2024 team, the Lady Highlanders currently hold the number three spot in the State behind Fort Mill and Phillip Simmons and slightly ahead of Lexington and Greenville high schools; and

 

Whereas, the team performed very competitively in the international divisions of both the Eye Opener and the Coaches Classic meets this year with seventh place finishes in both, along with top three finishes in eight of nine additional meets; and

 

Whereas, in a sport that demands endurance, strength, and speed, Head Coach Willis Ware and his skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic experience and training to forge a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure through the courses of life; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the Heathwood Hall cross country runners have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Heathwood Hall girls cross country team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Independent School Association State Championship title.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Head of Upper School George Scouten and to Coach Willis Ware.

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