State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HR0762

 
                                               LRB9216528RHrh

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The University  of  Illinois-Urbana  Champaign's
 3    (UIUC)  dedication  to  adapted  sports  programs for varsity
 4    students with physical disabilities is unparalleled; and

 5        WHEREAS, UIUC  sponsored  one  of  the  first  collegiate
 6    wheelchair basketball teams in the country and was one of the
 7    charter   members   of  the  National  Wheelchair  Basketball
 8    Association in 1949; and

 9        WHEREAS, The  proposed  collaboration  of  the  State  of
10    Illinois, UIUC, and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
11    provides the future sport sponsorship support and recognition
12    for wheelchair athletics at UIUC; and

13        WHEREAS, The University has become the hub of technology,
14    research and advancement in wheelchair sports and has been at
15    the   forefront   of   improvements   and   modifications  of
16    wheelchairs for enhanced player participation; and

17        WHEREAS, In  recent  years,  the  University's  continued
18    dedication to adapted varsity sports is evident through their
19    nationally   acclaimed   basketball   and   track  and  field
20    wheelchair teams, as well as their  support  for  individuals
21    participating in other sports programs; and

22        WHEREAS,  UIUC  wheelchair  athletics  partnered with the
23    Illinois High School Association piloted the first State-wide
24    model in the nation for interscholastic wheelchair basketball
25    competition, providing athletic opportunities to high  school
26    students  with  disabilities  across  all 102 counties within
27    Illinois; and

28        WHEREAS, The Fighting Illini Men's Wheelchair  Basketball
29    team   has  won  ten  National  Intercollegiate  Championship
30    titles,  played  in  every  National  Wheelchair   Basketball
31    Association  post-season tournament, as well as winning three
 
                            -2-                LRB9216528RHrh
 1    open titles  prior  to  intercollegiate  play;  the  Fighting
 2    Illini  Women's  Wheelchair  Basketball  team  has  won  nine
 3    National  Women's  Basketball  Tournament  Championships  and
 4    holds  the  record  for the most consecutive national titles;
 5    and

 6        WHEREAS, A  long  line  of  successful  and  historically
 7    significant  wheelchair  basketball  coaches,  including  Dr.
 8    Timothy  Nuggent,  Dr.  Brad  Hedrick,  and  Dr.  Bob Szyman,
 9    continue to dedicate their time, resources, and energy to the
10    UIUC Men's and Women's Wheelchair  Basketball  programs  that
11    are currently under the direction of internationally renowned
12    Head Coach, Michael Frogley; and

13        WHEREAS,  The University's adapted varsity sports program
14    has sent many of its elite players on to compete in  national
15    and   international  competitions,  including  eight  current
16    students, four recent graduates, four alternates and numerous
17    UIUC alums attending the 2000 Paralympics  Games  in  Sydney,
18    Australia; and

19        WHEREAS,  Ms.  Lauren  Reynolds, a University of Illinois
20    junior  swimmer,  won  three  swimming  medals  in  the  2000
21    Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, a gold  medal  in  the  400
22    meter  freestyle,  a  silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle
23    and 4X100 free relay, and set a world record in the 400 meter
24    freestyle; and

25        WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds has served as  an  inspiration  and
26    role  model  to  thousands  of  children  and  students  with
27    disabilities, helping them set and reach their goals in life;
28    in recognition of her significant contributions, Ms. Reynolds
29    was  named  the Wheelchair Sports USA's Female Athlete of the
30    Year in 2000; and

31        WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds is a junior  and  Speech  Pathology
32    major at UIUC and is the only athlete with a disability to be
 
                            -3-                LRB9216528RHrh
 1    chosen for the varsity women's swimming team; and

 2        WHEREAS,  The  University's dedication to adapted varsity
 3    sports program has created an important  forum  for  students
 4    with  disabilities  to  compete  with their peers in athletic
 5    programs while  helping  individuals  build  self-confidence,
 6    team work and setting personal goals; therefore be it

 7        RESOLVED   BY   THE   HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
 8    NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 9    we salute and  recognize  the  University  of  Illinois,  its
10    President,  Chancellors,  Board of Trustees, and athletes for
11    its  commitment  to  providing  increased  opportunities  for
12    athletes with disabilities to participate in  varsity  sports
13    and  encourage  them to expand those opportunities; and be it
14    further

15        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulates
16    and  recognizes  Ms.  Lauren  Reynolds  for  her  dedication,
17    perseverance, and hard work in not only the sport of swimming
18    but in  her  leadership  and  example  to  all  children  and
19    citizens  with  disabilities  to  strive to do their personal
20    best; and be it further

21        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
22    presented  to  the  University  of  Illinois,  its President,
23    Chancellors, Board of Trustees, and Athletic  Director  as  a
24    symbol  of  our support and appreciation for their continuing
25    support for varsity athletics for students with disabilities.

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