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Bill

H 5515

Fort Mill High School Boys Cross Country State Champions

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 119 co-sponsors

recognizes Fort Mill High School’s boys cross country team as the 2025 Class AAAAA, Division 2 state champions, praising their dominance and coaching leadership.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 5515

Summary of Bill H 5515 (2025-2026) — South Carolina

Note: This bill is a House Resolution recognizing a high school cross country achievement, not a law proposing new statutes or funding. It memorializes and congratulates rather than establishing regulatory changes.

1. Purpose and Intent

  • Primary purpose: To recognize and applaud the Fort Mill High School boys cross country team for winning the 2025 Class AAAAA, Division 2 State Championship.
  • It also honors the athletes and coaches for their outstanding season and their contributions to the school and community.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

  • Formal Recognition: The resolution acknowledges Fort Mill High School’s boys cross country team as state champions for the 2025 season.
  • Specific Achievement Highlighted:
    • Fort Mill dominated the Class AAAAA, Division 2 state competition with a 48-point margin over the second-place team, Chapin.
    • Notable top finishers on Fort Mill: Finn Leckrone (2nd, 15:51.34), Connor Demmerle (4th, 16:05.11), Owen Ware (5th, 16:10.25), Hudson Haley (7th, 16:17.03).
  • Leadership Recognized: Commends Head Coach Lee Whitaker and his coaching staff for their leadership and the development of the team.
  • Endorsement of Values: Notes the character-building impact of coaching and competition, emphasizing lessons learned on and off the course.

3. Affected Parties

  • Primary: Fort Mill High School, its boys cross country team, and their coaches (notably Coach Lee Whitaker) and school administration (Principal Zachary D. Beam).
  • Secondary: The Fort Mill community, supporters, and fans who take pride in the team’s accomplishment.
  • Note: As a ceremonial resolution, there are no statutory or regulatory changes affecting policy, funding, or compliance.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action History: Introduced and adopted on April 14, 2026.
  • Sponsorship: The bill has a broad list of co-sponsors from across the South Carolina House, indicating cross-chamber support and ceremonial endorsement.
  • Presentation: The resolution provides for a copy to be presented to the school principal and coach.

5. Impact and Implications

  • Ceremonial/Recognition Impact:
    • Public acknowledgment in the state legislature reinforces the school’s achievement and can bolster community pride and school spirit.
    • May serve as a historical record of the 2025 state championship for Class AAAAA, Division 2.
  • No fiscal or regulatory changes:
    • The text does not authorize funding, impose requirements, or modify existing laws or regulations.
    • It is a symbolic gesture of congratulations rather than a binding policy measure.

6. Notable Details

  • Specific event cited: Fort Mill High School boys cross country team’s victory occurred on November 15, 2025, at Aiken Steeplechase.
  • Team composition highlighted in the resolution includes top finishers and their times, underscoring the level of performance.

This bill serves as a formal commendation from the South Carolina House of Representatives to Fort Mill High School’s cross country program for its state championship achievement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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