III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 175 

Commending the University of Michigan softball team for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Championship on June 

8, 2005. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 16, 2005 

Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION

Commending the University of Michigan softball team for 

winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Championship on June 8, 2005.

Whereas the top-ranked University of Michigan softball team 

defeated the University of California—Los Angeles 

(UCLA) Bruins in the Women’s College World Series 2 

games to 1, becoming only the eighth team to win the 

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Softball 

Championship and the first Big Ten Conference team to 

claim a national title in softball or baseball since 1966; 

Whereas the University of Michigan softball team clinched 

the 2005 Women’s College World Series in an exciting 

extra-innings game with a 3-run homer in the 10th inning to win 4 to 1; 
2

•SRES 175 ATS

Whereas the University of Michigan softball team hit a home 

run in 57 of 65 games during the 2005 season and is 

just 1 of 3 schools in NCAA history to hit 100 home 

runs in a season; 

Whereas in 2005, the University of Michigan softball team 

earned its first Number 1 ranking in school history and 

won its tenth Big Ten Conference championship and seventh Big Ten Tournament title en route to advancing to 

its eighth Women’s College World Series; 

Whereas the NCAA championship title marks the 52nd national championship for a sports program at the University of Michigan, the second for a women’s athletic program at Michigan, and the first for a softball program 

east of the Mississippi River; 

Whereas the University of Michigan softball team mounted 

an impressive season record of 65 wins and 7 losses; 

Whereas Coach Carol Hutchins eclipsed the 900 win mark, 

capping a stellar 21 year career at Michigan that has 

seen her become the most victorious coach in University 

of Michigan history, currently ranking among the top 10 

Division I active coaches, with 940 career wins and a 

.729 winning percentage; 

Whereas 2 University of Michigan softball players, shortstop 

Jessica Merchant and pitcher Jennie Ritter, were finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year 

Award; 

Whereas a record-tying 8 players from the University of 

Michigan softball team were named to the Big Ten AllConference Team, and 6 players were named to the 

Spring 2005 Academic All-Big Ten Conference Team; 
3

•SRES 175 ATS

Whereas the University of Michigan softball team was led by 

the solid coaching of Carol Hutchins, Bonnie Tholl, Jennifer Brundage, and Jennifer Teague; 

Whereas players on the University of Michigan softball team 

included Stephanie Bercaw, Angie Danis, Samantha 

Findlay, Alessandra Giampaolo, Tiffany Haas, Lauren 

Holland, Jennifer Kreinbrink, Grace Leutele, Becky 

Marx, Jessica Merchant, Rebekah Milian, Nicole 

Motycka, Jennie Ritter, Lauren Talbot, Michelle 

Teschler, Michelle Weatherdon, Lorilyn Wilson, Stephanie Winter, and Tiffany Worthy; and 

Whereas Michigan had tremendous support from its hometown fans during their season, setting a home attendance 

record in 2005, and bringing in the 5 largest crowds in 

program history: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the University of Michigan soft3 ball team for winning the 2005 National Collegiate 

4 Athletic Association Division I Championship on 

5 June 8, 2005; 

6 (2) recognizes all of the players and coaches 

7 who were instrumental in this achievement; and 

8 (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to trans9 mit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Univer10 sity of Michigan athletic department for appropriate 

11 display.

Æ