LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Westhill Football Team and
Coach Gary Griffo upon the occasion of capturing the 2009 Class B
Section III and the Class B Regional Championships

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play, teamwork, and competition; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the State of New York who, achiev-
ing outstanding success in athletic competition, have inspired and
brought pride to their high schools; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the
Westhill Football Team and Head Coach Gary Griffo upon the occasion of
capturing the 2009 Class B Section III and the Class B Regional Champi-
onships, and for representing Class B in the 2009 New York State Champi-
onship Tournament; and
WHEREAS, To bring home a sectional and regional title, as did the 2009
Westhill Warriors, is a remarkable achievement; the Warriors won their
third Class B Section III Championship with a 37-22 victory over Marcel-
lus; and
WHEREAS, The Warriors continued their success through the Class B
Regional Tournament, winning the title with a 41-14 victory over Johnson
City; and
WHEREAS, Although the Warriors suffered a heartbreaking loss in the
semifinal round of the New York State Class B Championship, they have
much to be proud of, including Class B Sectional and Regional Champion-
ships, a final record of 11-1, receiving the New York State Scholar
Athlete Team Award, and record-breaking seasons from stand out players
Dan Ross, Jeff Law, and Kevin Wilson; Westhill proved itself to be one
of the most successful football teams in all of Central New York; and
WHEREAS, No team, no matter how gifted one or a handful of its members
may be, can succeed without outstanding talent throughout its entire
roster; such was the case for the 2009 Westhill Warriors whose players
include: Dan Cleary-Krell, Justin Biles, Connor Hicks, Tony Commisso,
Dan Ross, John Dillon, Tom Fisher, Jeff Law, Cory Nardello, Jake Rush,
Mark McAnaney, Jalen Robinson, Joe Snyder, Tyler Nigolian, Austin Webb,
R.J. Chester, Mike Fagan, Colin Pedrotti, Kevin Wilson, Jake Files, Matt
Trendowski, Matt Stalknecht, Brendon Lamphear, Ben Fennell, Dave Brusa,
David Chini, Mike Brusa, Mike Costa, Dakota Rogers, Brandon Sweeny, Mike
Awad, Ben Chrisfield, Christian Vadala, Stephen Olney, Andrew Torak,
Joshua Wilton, Josh Davoli, Ned Barnes, Jacob Nigolian, Nathan Nigolian,
and Alex Peebles; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Westhill Football Team is due in great
part to the efforts of Head Coach Gary Griffo, and his outstanding
Assistant Coaches Chuck Cassidy, Matthew Whipple, Adam Griffo, and
Robert Perry; the team was also assisted by the never-ending encourage-
ment and support of friends, family and the community; and
WHEREAS, The 2009 Warriors shared noteworthy attributes off the field
as well as in competition; individually and collectively, they constant-
ly exhibited good sportsmanship and scholarship, thereby demonstrating
to themselves and to others that they have an enviable combination of

talent and character which reflects favorably upon their school and
their community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Westhill Football Team and Head Coach Gary Griffo upon
the occasion of capturing the 2009 Class B Section III and the Class B
Regional Championships; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the 2009 Westhill Football Team and its coach-
es.