HR1040

LRB093 22467 KEF 51997 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish to recognize Kevin Bracken of Chicago, a 
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member of the 2000 United States  Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic 
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team,  as he retires from his wrestling career; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Kevin's wrestling career began in the seventh 
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grade on the south side of Chicago; his father, Bill, and his 
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brother, Billy, were major influences on his decision to begin 
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wrestling; in his second year of wrestling, he qualified for 
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the Kids State Tournament; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He attended St. Laurence High School in Burbank, a 
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school with a strong tradition in wrestling and other sports; 
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in his junior year he won Junior National Championships in 
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Greco-Roman Wrestling; Kevin led the St. Laurence Vikings to 
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their first wrestling State Championship as team captain and 
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most valuable wrestler his senior year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Kevin competed for Illinois State University from 
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1991 to 1995, where he broke the school's record for career 
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wins; he  was the youngest competitor in the 1992 Olympic Trials 
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and took fourth place;  after attending the 1996 Olympics as an 
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alternate, he accepted the position of top assistant coach at 
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Northern Illinois University, where  he helped coach two-time 
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All-American wrestler Jeremy Goeden, the school's first 
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All-American in 22 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, From 1996 to 2003, Kevin was a member of Team USA, 
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which  consists of the top three individuals at each weight 
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class; as a member of this team, he visited 22 countries and 
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wrestled in over 50 international matches; one of his biggest 
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wins was over World Champion Nikolai Monov of Russia in the 
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World Cup; and
 
 


 






HR1040
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LRB093 22467 KEF 51997 r




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    WHEREAS, Kevin went into the 2000 Olympic Trials as the 
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favorite, and he won matches in the best-of-three series by 
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scores of 4-0 and  7-4 to claim a spot on the U.S. Greco-Roman 
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Olympic team; competing in the Olympic Games was a dream come 
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true for Kevin; he started the tournament with a dominating 
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12-5 win over the 1999 World Silver Medalist; the Olympic Games 
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came to a close with Kevin taking 6th place in Sydney; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Kevin's first U.S. Open National Championship was 
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in 1997; he placed in the top four  in the United States from 
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1991 to 2003, missing one national championship due to 
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appendicitis; he won the 2001, 2002, and 2003 National 
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Championships;  and
 

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    WHEREAS, Kevin's hopes for making the 2004 U.S. Greco-Roman 
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Olympic team ended when he lost at the finals of 2004 Olympic

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Trials; in accordance with wrestling tradition, he placed his 
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shoes in the center of the  the mat following his last match to 
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signify his retirement; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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recognize Kevin Bracken on his outstanding wrestling career, we 
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congratulate him for representing the United States in the 
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sport of Greco-Roman wrestling with dedication and courage; and 
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we wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Kevin Bracken as a token of our admiration and 
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respect.