Congratulating the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team for winning the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Womens College World Series.

Congratulating the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team for winning the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Womens College World Series. Whereas the University of Oklahoma Sooners (referred to in this preamble as the Sooners Whereas the Sooners softball team were ranked the best team in the Nation, finishing the season with 59 wins and 3 losses, including winning 38-straight games to start the season and setting a new Division I softball record; Whereas over the 47-year history of the University of Oklahoma softball program, the Sooners (1) have won 6 Womens College World Series National Championships, including 4 championships in the past 6 years; and (2) have competed in 14 Womens College World Series; Whereas the 2022 national championship for the Sooners builds on the strong tradition of success for the University of Oklahoma athletics department, whose teams have delivered 40 national championships and 299 conference titles throughout the rich history of the department; Whereas Jocelyn Alo was named the Honda Sport Award Winner for Softball, was named back-to-back USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Big 12 Player of the Year for Softball, and was named Most Outstanding Player in the 2022 Womens College World Series, in which she went 12 for 18 with 5 home runs and 13 runs batted in; Whereas Tiare Jennings set a new record during the Womens College World Series with 15 runs batted in; Whereas true-freshmen pitcher Jordy Bahl finished with a 221 record, a 1.09 earned run average, and 205 strikeouts in 141 and innings; Whereas during the 2022 season, the Sooners softball team paced the Nation in team batting average, team slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, and earned run average; Whereas the Sooners players should be applauded for their outstanding contributions to the University of Oklahoma, to the achievement of winning a national championship, and to the sport of softball; Whereas such Sooners players include Rylie Boone, Grace Lyons, Taylon Snow, Hope Trautwein, Kinzie Hansen, Macy McAdoo, Sophia Nugent, Nicole May, Jana Johns, Grace Green, Lynnsie Elam, Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Hannah Coor, Alyssa Brito, Turiya Coleman, Quincee Lilio, Jocelyn Alo, Emmy Guthrie, and Jordy Bahl; Whereas the Sooners coaches, including Patty Gasso, Jennifer Rocha, JT Gasso, Kristen Zaleski, Fale Aviu, Sydney Romero, and Shannon Saile, should be applauded for their outstanding leadership of the University of Oklahoma softball program and their role in guiding and mentoring young women at the University of Oklahoma; Whereas Head Coach Patty Gasso has become a distinguished coach and leader in the softball community, which is evidenced by her (1) leadership of the Sooners to each of the 6 national championships in the history of the University of Oklahoma softball program; and (2) achievement of nearly 1,400 wins in her coaching career at the University of Oklahoma; and Whereas the Sooners bring pride to the State of Oklahoma and the entire softball community: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) honors the University of Oklahoma for winning the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Womens College World Series; (2) recognizes the excellence and dedication of all coaches, support staff, and players whose contributions led to victory in the Womens College World Series; (3) celebrates alongside the students and faculty at the University of Oklahoma and all fans of the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team; and (4) requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to (A) Joseph Harroz Jr., President of the University of Oklahoma; (B) Joseph Castiglione, Director of Athletics and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletic Programs of the University of Oklahoma; and (C) Patty Gasso, Head Coach of the University of Oklahoma softball team.

Summary: This resolution honors the University of Oklahoma for winning the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's College World Series.