TRIBUTE TO MIKE FENNELL

June 7, 2001

U.S. House of Representatives

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from New York (Mr. REYNOLDS) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Madam Speaker, in sports today, words like courage and character, leadership and perseverance are used so frequently they have become almost cliché. Sometimes, though, a story emerges that rekindles our faith in the indomitable will of the human spirit, which proves a sports figure can embody all those traits and more, and which inspires not only a team but an entire community. Such is the case in a story of Mike Fennell, coach of the McQuaid Jesuit High School baseball team in Rochester,

New York.

One week ago, Mike coached the Knights to their first section v baseball championship in 20 years. It was the 250th victory of his coaching career, the team’s fourth championship game in 5 years, and Coach Fennell’s first sectional title. Indeed, these accomplishments are worthy of note, but they are even more remarkable considering just days before the championship game in Rochester’s Frontier Field, Mike Fennell was in a hospital bed recovering from yet another surgery in his valiant crusade against non-smoker’s lung cancer.

Since his diagnosis in November, Mike has faced this disease bravely, stubbornly, and even with a good dose of humor. His struggle has been so valiant and inspiring that following Mike’s hair loss, resulting from ongoing chemotherapy, the McQuaid Knights wanted to do something special to show their support, love, and respect for their ailing coach, and that is when the team, led by pitcher Mike Lewis and catcher Paul Knittle, decided to shave their own heads.

A baseball standout at Fairport High School and Le Moyne College, Mike spent several years in the New York Yankee farm clubs, but the leadership and inspiration Mike has shown these past few months transcend any sport or championship. During the trophy presentation, still weak from his chemo treatments, Mike shunned his walker that his wife, Erin, and nurse, Patty Messina, wanted him to use to make the trek from the dugout to home plate. He would make that walk the same way he has faced his disease, through faith, determination, and sheer will.

Mike Fennell has shown each of us how to face adversity, both bravely and proudly. He has shown us the strength to endure, even when doctors and his own body want him to stop. Most importantly, he has shown us there is nothing quite so tenacious and unbreakable as a human spirit.

Madam Speaker, I ask this Congress to join me in saluting a hero and a champion, Coach Mike Fennell.