Congratulating North Central College on winning the 2009 NCAA Division III men's cross country championship.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1001) congratulating North Central College on winning the 2009 NCAA Division III men's cross country championship.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1001 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1001, which recognizes and congratulates the North Central College Cardinals' men's cross country team for winning the 2009 NCAA Division III men's cross country championship, and for pursuing athletic and academic excellence.

For the entirety of the 2009 season, the North Central College Cardinals' men's cross country team held onto their ranking as number one among NCAA Division III teams, and by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The team won their first Illinois Intercollegiate Championship this season, edging out the University of Illinois by 16 points, while winning the NCAA Midwest Regional by an 84-point margin.

On November 21, 2009, the team applied the lessons learned during their successful season and displayed their outstanding athletic skills by winning the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championship. It was the Cardinals' 13th team men's cross country championship in their school's history, and its first since 1999. The team won with 50 points, and the margin of victory was the largest in the history of the Division III men's national meet. In addition, all seven of the Cardinal team's national championship competitors earned All-American honors.

I would like to recognize each one of them individually, and congratulate: Neal Klein, Michael Spain, Ryan Carrigan, Nathaniel Hird, Kyle Brandy, Nathan Rutz, and Sean Carlson on their athletic excellence. Special congratulations are due to Coach Al Carius who, along with leading the team to win their championship, guided the Cardinals to eight invitational wins this season.

In addition to an outstanding season of coaching, the day after winning the championship the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Carius the 2009 NCAA Division III National Cross Country Coach of the Year. Carius, also a member of the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has led his athletes to a total of 18 national titles during his tenure at North Central, and four championships in outdoor track and field, and one in indoor track and field.

North Central College succeeds not only on the cross country trails, but in its classrooms as well. Founded in 1861 in Naperville, Illinois, North Central College has 2,333 full-time undergraduates, hailing from 31 States and 23 foreign countries. NCC offers over 55 different majors. North Central College empowers students to choose or design

nontraditional concentrations, and offers a wide range of field experiences, independent studies, and internships. It is an institute of higher learning from which its graduates include its athletes, which go on to accomplish great things and make important contributions to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, once again I congratulate the North Central men's cross country team and its coaches on its 2009 Division III NCAA championship title, and I wish the program much success in the 2010 season.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I am sure the students and faculty and coaches and all those at North Central College are very pleased that Mrs. Biggert is the chief sponsor of this resolution. And it is our pleasure to, in a few minutes, pass that so they can keep it in their archives forever.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1001-- Congratulating North Central College on winning the 2009 NCAA Division Ill men's cross country championship.

North Central College is a private 4-year liberal arts college located in Naperville, Illinois. North Central has 2,333 full-time undergraduate students and a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. Students at North Central have excelled both academically and athletically. NCC was recently named a ``College of Distinction'' and was named one of ``America's Best Colleges'' by US News and World Report. The NCC Cardinals have won 24 national championships and is the only school in their conference to win four national championships in four different sports.

North Central College athletics are best known for their Men's Track and Field and Cross Country teams. The Cardinals men's cross country team has been excelling for over 40 years. The first Cardinal was named All American in 1964 and the team won their first NCAA Division Ill Championship in 1975.

On November 21, 2009 the North Central College men's cross country team swept the NCAA Division Ill championships for the 13th time. The Cardinals took first place by a 131-point margin of victory, the largest ever in the history of the championship. Each of the team's seven competing players were named All American and Head Coach Al Carius was named National Coach of the year.

The North Central College men's cross country team is one example of collegiate excellence. Congratulations to Head Coach Al Carius, the team members Neal Klein, Michael Spain, Ryan Carrigan, Nathaniel Hird, Kyle Brady, Sean Carlson, and Nathan Rutz, the faculty, staff and North Central students on this victory.

Today, we recognize and commend North Central College for its pursuit and achievement of athletic, academic and collegiate excellence.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1001.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the distinguished gentlelady from Illinois, Judy Biggert.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote in support of House Resolution 1001, and yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1001, recognizing North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, my district, for exceptional athletic and academic achievements.

On November 21, 2009, the North Central men's cross country team won its 13th NCAA Division III National Championship. Team members, and I am going to go over their names again because I think this is so important, Neal Klein, Michael Spain, Ryan Carrigan, Nathaniel Hird, Kyle Brady, Nathan Rutz, and Sean Carlson earned All-American status, placing them in an elite group of national athletes. Additionally, head coach Al Carius was named 2009 NCAA Division III National Cross Country Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association.

These dedicated young men of the team spent countless hours training and preparing for their outstanding cross country season, ultimately winning nearly every meet in which they participated. The success of the North Central men's cross country team is but one example of the high caliber of the college students in both athletic and academic pursuits.

I think this resolution is a great opportunity to encourage excellence among our Nation's best students. When you think of sports, they say, oh, this is athletics, this isn't academics. But they really go hand in hand. I think as we have learned how important exercise is, it doesn't really have to be athletics, but exercise is in improving the capabilities of our brains. And I think that so many times that you think, oh, well, this is just kind of a little aside. But it really is important.

I am proud to say that Illinois really is the only State in the Union that requires gym or some sort of athletics for every student in the State. And I wish more States could have the same opportunity for the kids to pursue their sports. So this is a great opportunity to talk about excellence in both athletics and academics. I would urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the North Central men's cross country team for their victory at the NCAA Division III National Championship.