SENATE RESOLUTION 54

(By Senators Caputo, Beach, Clements, Maroney, Stollings, Jeffries, and Phillips)

[Introduced March 9, 2022]

Congratulating the Fairmont Senior High School Polar Bears football team for winning the 2021 Class AA state championship.

Whereas, The Fairmont Senior High School football team had another remarkable year on the gridiron, resulting in the Polar Bears winning back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history, and their third title in four years; and

Whereas, The Fairmont Senior High School football team qualified for the 2021 playoffs with a 26-7 victory over their rival East Fairmont and finished the regular season with a record of 5-4.  The victory secured a playoff berth and the #16 seed for the Polar Bears; and

Whereas, The Fairmont Senior High School football team had a tough road to travel through the playoffs, which began with a hard-fought victory over the #1 seed, Herbert Hoover, 30-28; in the second round, the Polar Bears defeated the #8 seed, Robert C. Byrd, 33-28; in the semi-finals, the Polar Bears dominated the #5 seed, Poca, 41-7; and

Whereas, The Fairmont Senior High School football team lined up against the #2 seed, Independence, in the championship game. The Polar Bears and the Patriots endured a heavyweight contest which had all the makings of a great game, including solid defense, trick plays, and a close score; and

Whereas, In the end, the Polar Bears made history and defeated the Patriots 21-12, becoming only the second team to win the championship as a #16 seed since the advent of the 16-team playoff format; and

Whereas, The Polar Bear football team is led by head coach Nick Bartic, who hails from a football family. His father, Martin ‘Sonny’ Bartic played for Fairmont State in the 1967 NAIA Championship and went on to become a longtime coach at Rivesville High School; and

Whereas, The 2021 Polar Bears football team is a shining example to all West Virginians of what can be accomplished with dedication, commitment, and teamwork, and will be remembered as one of the best teams ever assembled in West Virginia high school football history; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby congratulates the Fairmont Senior High School Polar Bears football team for winning the 2021 Class AA state championship; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate commends the team, coaches, staff, cheerleaders, students, and the community for their outstanding accomplishment; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this to the Fairmont Senior High School football team.