South Carolina H 3683: Heathwood Hall girls cross country champs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3683 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3683

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Heathwood Hall Girls 
Cross Country Team, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON 
AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 South Carolina Independent School 
Association state CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. 

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Heathwood 
Hall Highlanders girls cross country team of Richland 
County captured the team's fourth consecutive South Carolina Independent School 
Association (SCISA) state title at the state meet held at Heathwood Hall on Saturday, 
October 26, 2024; and

Whereas, to the delight 
of their faithful fans, the Lady Highlanders, with a score of 46 points, 
defeated a competitive field of ten schools and eighty-six individuals who 
placed in the meet; and

Whereas, eighth grader Dorothy 
Hutchins led the Lady Highlanders by taking second place with a time of 
18:31.29, less than 20 seconds behind the first-place runner. Seventh grader 
Cate Leppard finished sixth for Heathwood with a time of 18:52.29. Freshmen 
Lydia Smith and Annabel Martin finished with 19:28.67 and 19:29.32, 
respectively, to take the twelfth and thirteenth spots for the Highlanders. 
Eighth grader Mary Widener was seventeenth with a time of 19:53.13; junior Lily 
Griswold was twenty-ninth with a time of 20:41.07, and freshmen Ouita Elliott 
was forty-third with a time of 22:16.84; and

Whereas, Heathwood 
girls cross country team's number one and two runners from a year ago graduated, 
and both are now running for the University of South Carolina, leaving quite a 
challenge for the 2024 season. Despite having no seniors and only one junior 
among the top twelve runners on the 2024 team, the Lady Highlanders currently hold 
the number three spot in the State behind Fort Mill and Phillip Simmons and 
slightly ahead of Lexington and Greenville high schools; and 

Whereas, the team performed 
very competitively in the international divisions of both the Eye Opener and 
the Coaches Classic meets this year with seventh place finishes in both, along 
with top three finishes in eight of nine additional meets; and

Whereas, in a sport 
that demands endurance, strength, and speed, Head Coach Willis Ware and his 
skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic experience and training to 
forge a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that 
will endure through the courses of life; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the Heathwood 
Hall cross country runners have brought to their school and their community, 
and the members look forward to following their continued achievements in the 
days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize 
and honor the Heathwood Hall girls cross country team, coaches, and school 
officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 
South Carolina Independent School Association State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this 
resolution be presented to the Head of Upper School George Scouten and to Coach 
Willis Ware.

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2025 at 03:38 PM