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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-225
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 14, 2014
To recognize and honor the Takoma Park DC All Stars for being a vital part of the Ward 4 community and altruistically changing the lives of youth swimmers for over 50 years.
WHEREAS, the Takoma Park DC All Stars (“TPDC”) is a Division A competitive summer swim team that trains youth ages 5 to 18 years at their home pool located at the Takoma Aquatic Center in Ward 4;
WHEREAS, TPDC was one of the founding members of the Prince-Mont Swim League (“PMSL”), which was founded 55 years ago on June 14th, encompassing teams from the District and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Charles Counties in Maryland;
WHEREAS, the PMSL was founded to sponsor and coordinate age-group competitive swimming programs during the summer months among member teams with the intent to instill a love for swimming, advanced aquatic skill, patience, cooperation, and good sportsmanship.
WHEREAS, there have only been 12 coaches in the 55-year history of the TPDC, demonstrating the ardor and loyalty of the coaching staff to the organization’s mission and youth;
WHEREAS, Jake Hinsler, Burt Sampson, Skip Grant, Vicki Baker, Yonnie Shambrough, Solomon Robinson, Mark Lewis, Roger Mccoy, Skip Grant, Rob Green, Sr., and Rob Green, Jr., have all served as head coaches of the TPDC family;
WHEREAS, the TPDC also holds the distinction of having a female head coach in 1974, when males dominated the coaching world in both men’s and women’s swimming;
WHEREAS, the TPDC still holds the distinction of maintaining Division A status for its entire 55-year history and consistently performs as one of the strongest teams in the PMSL, earning division titles in 1974, 1993, 2007, 2009, and 2010;
WHEREAS, the TPDC won the Saum-Hilton Award in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2013, which is named in honor of George Saum and Brad Hilton and presented to one of the 2 smallest teams in Division A that is most improved relative to their initial seeding;
WHEREAS, TPDC’s Fred Evans, Deryck Marks, and Bobby Murray have gone to the Olympic Trials;
WHEREAS, TPDC’s Nnamse Ammons, Fred Evans, Marissa Gentry, Lynn Grant, Kimberly Green, Rory Lewis, Bobby Murray (100 Free Champion), Miguel Orellana, Delonte Stephens (100 Fly Champion), Joshua Tomlin, and Amina Wilson are nationally ranked junior athlete swimmers:
WHEREAS, approximately 50% of the TPDC have been members for over a decade, and half of those joined the team at the age of 8 years or younger;
WHEREAS, each year TPDC graduates swimmers who are 18 years of age and in their last year of eligibility, speaking to their love of the TPDC;
WHEREAS, the TPDC has introduced competitive swimming to thousands of youth in the Washington, D.C. area, the majority of year-round swimmers competing in USA Swimming started on summer swim teams, and most swimmers on DC WAVE began their love of the sport by first being a member of the Takoma Park DC All Stars; and
WHEREAS, the TPDC are a family and many swimmers that once participated with the TPDC are now parents who have introduced their children to swimming with the TPDC to foster the same skill, sportsmanship, and camaraderie they gained from the organization.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia commends and recognizes the Takoma Park DC All Stars for its exemplary swim instruction, youth mentoring, and community involvement for over 50 years in Ward 4.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Takoma Park DC All Stars Recognition Resolution of 2014”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
