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S. R. No. 79 *SS26/R1620* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) McCaughn, Tate
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 79
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE WEST 1
LAUDERDALE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2025 2
MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 4A 3
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 4
WHEREAS, the West Lauderdale Boys Cross Country Team reigned 5
supreme at the 2025 Mississippi High School Activities Association 6
(MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship, outperforming the competition 7
for the third year in a row in an incredible three-peat victory; 8
and 9
WHEREAS, after being named champions at the district and 10
super-regional competitions, the West Lauderdale Knights outlasted 11
and outpaced their competitors at the state championship as they 12
raced along the Robert and Rebecca Watson Cross Country Course at 13
Choctaw Trails in Clinton, Mississippi, relying on their swift 14
feet and fierce determination to propel them past the finish line; 15
and 16
WHEREAS, with fervent resolve and dauntless fortitude 17
powering their every step, the team defeated Corinth High School 18
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by one point and improved upon their overall team average time 19
from the prior season by 28 seconds; and 20
WHEREAS, the Knights were led by several outstanding 21
individual performances, including an extraordinary showing from 22
Hunter Walton (16:18), who won the individual state championship 23
title for the second year in a row; and 24
WHEREAS, the fifth fastest senior runner and 15th fastest 25
overall runner in the State of Mississippi, Hunter is also a 26
three-time all-state selection, three-time team state champion, 27
and the record holder for the fastest 5K finish in the program's 28
history (16:12); and 29
WHEREAS, two-time team state champion, Ryan Thompson ranked 30
in sixth place with a 17:05 finish, earning an all-state selection 31
and carrying the mantle as the state's eighth fastest sophomore 32
runner and the 36th fastest runner overall; and 33
WHEREAS, in ninth place, Aaron Walls hit the tape with a 34
remarkable run time of 17:34, and he is a standout on the track as 35
the 25th fastest senior runner in the state, as well as a 36
three-time all-state selection and team state champion; and 37
WHEREAS, Brody Gresset, a three-time team state champion, 38
finished the race at 17:51 in 15th place, only one place away from 39
achieving an all-state selection; and 40
WHEREAS, clinching the state championship for the team, 41
Sawyer Windham (18:05) completed the race in 20th place, and this 42
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two-time team state champion beat seven runners that finished 43
within nine seconds of him; and 44
WHEREAS, the final two championship runners, three-time team 45
state champion, Stone Berg (18:34) and two-time team state 46
champion, Owen Allen (19:02), ranked in 35th place and 48th place, 47
respectively; and 48
WHEREAS, the key to this dynamic team's success throughout 49
the season has been the amazing team spirit of each of its 50
members, including: Eli Robinson, River Thompson, Zach Garrison, 51
Nicholas Zingler, Deakon Vick, Larry Osborne, Caleb McAlister, 52
Christian Nix, Payton Swenson and Sawyer Ballard; and 53
WHEREAS, the Knights have been superbly coached and inspired 54
by Paul Shelly, who has served the program for six years as an 55
assistant coach and 11 years as head coach, and Misty Atkinson and 56
Cathy Gordon, who have coached the Knights for nine years. 57
Together, this elite coaching staff has broadened the runners' 58
knowledge of the sport and refined their skills in execution; and 59
WHEREAS, all season long, these dedicated young men pushed 60
through long hours of hard work and intense training to hone their 61
talent and build their stamina, giving them the tools they needed 62
to go the distance, and their collective effort paid off as they 63
won seven invitational meets in the regular season, proving 64
champions are made in practice; and 65
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ST: Commend West Lauderdale High School Boys
Cross Country Team upon winning MHSAA Class 4A
State Championship.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we congratulate this 66
exceptional group of student-athletes, who have brought honor to 67
their school, their community and the entire State of Mississippi: 68
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 69
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the West 70
Lauderdale Boys Cross Country Team for winning the 2025 71
Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A 72
State Championship, and extend best wishes to the team for success 73
in all their future endeavors. 74
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 75
Coach Paul Shelly and West Lauderdale Principal Shane Rodgers for 76
the West Lauderdale Boys Cross Country Team, forwarded to the 77
Lauderdale County Board of Education, and made available the 78
Capitol Press Corps. 79