The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF COREY WELCH ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE LUZERNE COUNTY
SPORTS HALL OF FAME
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HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 30, 2021
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor former athlete and Northeastern Pennsylvania native Corey Welch. Corey will be inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 for his distinct athletic achievements in the sports of swimming and water polo. He and his 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.
Corey started competitively swimming when he was five years old. Five more years later, he won his first age group PA State Championship for the Wilkes-Barre YMCA in the 50 meter backstroke. Corey continued to succeed in the pool, winning the 100 IM as well as the 50 backstroke, setting a state and national record. He was ranked as the number one 14-year-old in the country in the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke.
Corey also began playing water polo, and in 1996, he was selected to attend the USA Water Polo Youth Development Camp at the USA Olympic Training Center. Corey had a very successful high school athletic career at Wyoming Valley West, and, as a freshman on the water polo team, he was voted the best freshman player in the state. He went on to be All-State the following three years and All-American in his junior and senior seasons. He helped lead the team to four consecutive division championships. On the swim team, Corey was undefeated in his individual events at the AAA district championships, and he helped the team win the PIAA District 2 and Wyoming Valley Conference Team titles during each of his four years.
After graduating from Wyoming Valley West, Corey continued his swimming career on a Division I scholarship at the University of Florida. He qualified for the USA Swimming National Championships each of his four years as a Gator, and, in 2004, he qualified for his first Olympic Trials in the 200 LCM breaststroke. Corey qualified for finals in several Nationals, as well as the 2004 US Open where he won the title as part of the 400 medley relay along with the overall team title. For his efforts, he was named to the Gators' All Time Top Ten list in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay. In 2005, he won the SEC Championship with a conference and team record, and he earned Division I NCAA All-American status when the team finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. His impressive times also earned him a spot at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials.
After graduation, Corey pursued his doctorate in physical therapy at Drexel University. While in Philadelphia, he began coaching a USA Masters swim team, and he continued to compete himself in several Masters meets. In 2010, he was the USMS National Champion in both the 100 and 200 LCM. In early summer 2012, Corey swam a lifetime best in the 100 LCM breaststroke to earn a spot at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials.
It is an honor to recognize Corey on his induction into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame. May his 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. 134
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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