HR0485 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0485 LRB094 12198 CSA 46522 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The University of Illinois wrestling team won their first Big Ten Tournament Championship team title since 1952 in Iowa City on March 6, 2005; and

WHEREAS, The wrestling team set a school record for most wins in a season; and

WHEREAS, The wrestling team won the Midland Team Title for a second consecutive year, finished second in the National Team Duals, and won the Big Ten regular season title, but went one step further with the conference championship at the Big Ten Tournament with a final score of 130 points; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' 130 points also tie the school record for the Big Ten Championship; and

WHEREAS, University of Illinois head wrestling Coach Mark Johnson was named the 2005 Big Ten Coach of the Year, his second time to win the award; and

WHEREAS, During Coach Johnson's 13-year tenure at Illinois, the Illini have finished in the Top-10 on nine occasions and finished in sixth place in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Illini wrestler Alex Tirapelle won his second Big Ten title and Pete Friedl won his first; and

WHEREAS, Five Illini wrestlers became All-Americans; and

WHEREAS, Winning the title shows the hard work and dedication that the team members and Head Coach Johnson and Assistant Coaches Jim Heffernan and Carl Perry have given to the program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the University of Illinois wrestling coaches and team members on their Big Ten Tournament Championship team title and wish them continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the University of Illinois wrestling coaches and team members as an expression of our admiration and esteem.