HR 17 (LSB 2552YH (9) 90)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 17

BY  ISENHART, GRABER, JAMES, BRADLEY, JOHNSON, FISHER, LUNDGREN, TUREK, and GAINES

A Resolution to recognize and congratulate the women’s basketball team of Clarke University in Dubuque for their 2023 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship.

   WHEREAS, the Clarke University women’s basketball team (the Pride) had a 19-3 conference record and a 33-4 overall record, entered the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament as a number two seed, and hosted first-round games; and
   WHEREAS, the Pride began the NAIA tournament with the Pride’s first ever win in a quarterfinal match by defeating the number one seed Campbellsville University; and
   WHEREAS, the Pride continued its winning streak to the championship match at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, where they paired off against the number one ranked and defending national champions, Thomas More University from Crestview Hills, Kentucky; and
   WHEREAS, on March 18, 2023, after a hard-fought game, the Pride defeated Thomas More University 63-52 for the Pride’s first ever national athletic title; and
   WHEREAS, the Pride won all six of their tournament games by an average of 11.5 points per game, and won each of their four games played in Sioux City by double digits; and
   WHEREAS, during the NAIA tournament, Skylar Culbertson became the program’s all-time leader in total assists, finishing with 492, and Tina Ubl became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,992 points to finish her college career; and
   WHEREAS, for her outstanding performance, Tina Ubl was named the NAIA tournament Most Valuable Player; and
   WHEREAS, Tina Ubl, Nicole McDermott, and Giana Michels were named to the all-tournament teams; and
   WHEREAS, during their regular season, the Pride had three players, Emma Kelchen, Nicole McDermott, and Giana Michels, reach the 1,000-point club for their careers, becoming the 15th, 16th, and 17th players in program history to do so; and
   WHEREAS, the Pride led the Heart of America Athletic Conference with seven all-conference selections, including Tina Ubl (1st team), Nicole McDermott (1st team), Skylar Culbertson (2nd team), Emma Kelchen (2nd team), Giana Michels (honorable mention), Taylor Haase (honorable mention), and Mya Merschman (honorable mention); and
   WHEREAS, for her invaluable guidance and leadership on and off the court, head coach Courtney Boyd was named the NAIA national coach of the year, adding to her career portfolio after having led the Kirkwood Community College Eagles to a National Junior Athletic Association basketball title in 2007; and
   WHEREAS, Coach Boyd hails from Keokuk, and several Pride players attended high schools across Iowa, including Dubuque, Cascade, Bellevue, Montezuma, and Donnellson, attesting to the quality of Iowa education and the role of extracurricular activities in the personal formation of Iowa’s youth; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives congratulates the Clarke University women’s basketball team, including players, coaches, and support staff on their 2023 NAIA national championship; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That upon adoption of this resolution, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Clarke University women’s basketball head coach, Courtney Boyd, athletic director, Curt Long, and the president of Clarke University, Fletcher Lamkin.