LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the John A. Coleman Catholic High
School's Girls Basketball Team and Coach Guy Leonard upon the occasion
of capturing the 2009 New York State Public High School Athletic Associ-
ation's Class D Championship

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 and competition; and
WHEREAS, The John A. Coleman Catholic High School's Girls Basketball
Team, The Stateswomen, are the 2009 New York State Public High School
Athletic Association's Class D Champions; and
WHEREAS, The team recently captured the New York State Public High
School Athletic Association's Class D Championship at Hudson Valley
Community College in Troy, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Stateswomen took the title by defeating Section VI Cham-
pions, Sherman; the Stateswomen, who boasted a season record of 22-2,
entered the final four as the top-ranked team in New York State and
became the first Section IX girls team to capture a state basketball
crown since 1988; and
WHEREAS, Located in Hurley, New York, this is the first state champi-
onship for John A. Coleman Catholic High School and is the first local
area's girls basketball state title in more than 20 years; and
WHEREAS, In addition to taking the New York State title, several play-
ers were individually recognized: Taylor Leonard was named Tournament
MVP; Anne Shults received the Sportsmanship Award; and Lauren Carnevali
made the All Tournament Team; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Coach Guy Leonard, a skilled and inspirational
tutor, respected for his ability to develop potential into excellence;
and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record is outstanding, and the team
members were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans,
friends and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the John A. Coleman Catholic High School's
Girls Basketball Team, from the opening game of the season to partic-
ipation in the Championship, were a sisterhood of athletic ability, of
good sportsmanship, of honor and of scholarship, demonstrating that
these team players are second to none; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the team members have proven
themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting favor-
ably on John A. Coleman Catholic High School; and
WHEREAS, Coach Guy Leonard and Assistant Coaches, Bill Kahrs and
Robert O'Connor, have done a superb job in guiding, molding and inspir-
ing the team members toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Guy Leonard, Assistant Coaches, Bill Kahrs and
Robert O'Connor, and the outstanding athletes on the John A. Coleman
Catholic High School's Girls Basketball Team have clearly made a
contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of their
school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the John A. Coleman Catholic High School's Girls Basketball

Team; its members: Katelyn Davis, Crystal Juliano, Anne Shults, Lindsay
Tschinkel, Miranda Bernholz, Taylor Leonard, Kate Shults, Katherine
Keegan-Twombly, Ana Saccoman, Dayna Callahan, Stephanie Siracusano,
Melody O'Connor, Karen Kuhn, Lauren Carnevali; Coach Guy Leonard and
Assistant Coaches, Bill Kahrs and Robert O'Connor, on their outstanding
season and overall team record; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the John A. Coleman Catholic High School's Girls Basketball
Team, Coach Guy Leonard and Assistant Coaches, Bill Kahrs and Robert
O'Connor.