H.R. No. 1598

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Dumas High School boys' and girls' wrestling teams enjoyed exceptional seasons in 2021, continuing a proud tradition of success for a wrestling program that has achieved renown throughout the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, After honing their abilities earlier in the year, the Dumas wrestlers went on to excel at the district meet on April 9 and 10; the Demons finished second in the boys' team standings, and the Demonettes, in only their second year of competition, took third place, with Emily Loya claiming the program's inaugural individual district championship; Dumas then moved on to regionals, where the Demons were second overall and the Demonettes finished sixth; and

WHEREAS, On April 23 and 24, Dumas athletes joined the other top wrestlers in Texas at the University Interscholastic League Wrestling State Tournament in Cypress; sparked by the gold-medal performances of Robert Ruiz in the 132-pound division and Ahlee Yart at 138 pounds, the Demons clinched the bronze medal in the 5A boys' team results; Karlo Sanchez added a third-place finish at 220 pounds, and Diego Falcon placed fifth at 152 pounds; in addition, Brandon Smith and Cannon Speck competed at 113 and 182 pounds, respectively, and Juan Romero qualified for state at 160 pounds; and

WHEREAS, Two members of the Demonettes team participated in the Cypress meet; wrestling in the 128-pound division, Ms. Loya again made history, becoming the first member of the girls' team to win matches at the state tournament, and she ultimately finished in sixth place; Valeria Ordonez was the other state qualifier and competed in the 138-pound division; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the season, the Dumas boys' and girls' squads were ably guided by head coach Clint Chamblin and his assistants; Coach Chamblin has been with the team since 2013 and directed the Demons to back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018; and

WHEREAS, The accomplishments of the Demons and Demonettes in 2021 added a new chapter to the rich legacy of the school's wrestling program, which was first established in 1993; benefiting from the leadership of a long line of talented coaches, Dumas wrestlers have built a winning tradition, earning a place in the roll call of champions at the district, regional, and state levels; and

WHEREAS, Among the prominent figures in the history of Dumas wrestling is Kurt Baxter, who is now principal at Dumas Junior High School; he enjoyed tremendous success as head coach and introduced the sport at the junior high level; the lineage of dedicated mentors also includes current Dumas High School principal Carl Clements, who was an All-State wrestler for the Demons in the mid-1990s; he returned in 2009 as head coach and further elevated the program during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Strong community support has been key to making wrestling a popular sport for young people in Dumas; such organizations as the Standfast Wrestling Club and the Dumas Youth Wrestling Club play a vital part in that effort, and individuals such as Standfast's Jose Loya are striving to increase involvement among girls; working closely with parents, those groups and the school wrestling teams teach positive values and life lessons to the athletes, preparing them to reach their full potential both on and off the mat; and

WHEREAS, Extending their school's long history of achievement, the members of the Dumas High boys' and girls' wrestling teams have demonstrated exemplary skill and commitment, and they may indeed take great pride in a job well done; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the Dumas High School boys' and girls' wrestling teams on an outstanding 2021 season and extend to the athletes, coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the teams as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Price

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1598 was adopted by the House on May 29, 2021, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House