The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF SHANA WELCH ON HER INDUCTION INTO THE LUZERNE COUNTY
SPORTS HALL OF FAME
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HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor former athlete, coach, and Northeastern Pennsylvania native Shana Welch. Shana will be inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 for her distinct athletic and coaching achievements in the sports of swimming and water polo. She and her fellow inductees will be honored at a reception on August 8, 2021.
Each year, the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have brought fame and recognition to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through their outstanding achievements and contributions in athletic endeavors.
At Wyoming Valley West High School, Shana was a standout member of the swim team. She received All-American recognition from the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association in both the 50-yard and 100-
yard freestyle event. She was named Conference Swimmer of the Year four times and won 15 PIAA District II swimming medals.
Shana was not only a skilled swimmer, but she was also a key player on the soccer, water polo, and track and field teams, earning four letters in water polo and soccer and one in track and field. On the water polo team, she helped lead the team to their first State Championship in 1999. She was a four-time All-State and four-time All-
American, and in her freshman year she was named Rookie of the Year. After her senior year, she was crowned MVP.
Shana continued her academic and athletic careers at the University of Michigan, establishing herself as one of the best players in school water polo history. She set new program records for career goals and points and led the team as captain in 2006 and 2007. The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) recognized her athletic prowess throughout her collegiate career, naming her Rookie of the Year in 2005, MVP of the CWPA Western Division three times, and CWPA Player of the Week nine times. Shana was instrumental in leading the team to the 2005 CWPA Championship and earned an NCAA tournament berth, as well as four consecutive division crowns from 2004 to 2007. USA Speedo named her a Top 40 player in both 2005 and 2006. In addition to her dominance in the pool, Shana excelled academically. She received the University of Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement Award in 2006 and 2007, and she received the Bob Ufer Sr. Athlete Award in 2007.
Shana played professional water polo in Australia with the UWA Comets the year after graduation and in Greece from 2010-2011. Stateside, she focused on coaching, accepting a position as Bucknell University's assistant swim coach for the 2008-2009 season. For the 2009-2010 season, she coached the Harvard men's water polo team. In 2014, Shana joined Long Beach State University as the women's water polo volunteer assistant, and, in 2020. she was named the first dedicated coach for the women's water polo program since 2008 after leading the team in six standout seasons in various coaching roles. In recognition of her athleticism and contributions to the sport, Shana was named to the Michigan All-Decade team in 2010, and, in 2016, she was inducted into the CWPA Hall of Fame.
It is an honor to recognize Shana on her induction into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame. May her story and athletic career serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Pennsylvania athletes striving for excellence.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 133
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