LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Bethpage High School Gymnas-
tics Team and Coach Kim Rhatigan upon the occasion of capturing the 2013
Nassau County 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 Bethpage High School Golden Eagles Gymnastics Team are
the 2013 Nassau County Champions; and
WHEREAS, The Golden Eagles edged second place Plainview JFK to clinch
their third straight Nassau County Championship in Gymnastics; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Coach Kim Rhatigan and Assistant Coach Vicki
Vitale, skilled and inspirational tutors, respected for their abilities
to develop potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record is outstanding and team members
were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans, friends and
the community at large; and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the Bethpage High School Gymnastics Team,
from the opening competition of the season to participation in the cham-
pionship, 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 skill and talent, reflect-
ing favorably on their school and community; and
WHEREAS, Coach Kim Rhatigan and Assistant Coach Vicki Vitale have done
a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team members toward
their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and the teammates 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 Bethpage High School Golden Eagles Gymnastics Team; its
members: Katie Calamo, Kayla Castellano, Gabriella Castles, Rachel
Chao, Sarah Ciresi, Alyssa Firth, Sara Fox, Alexis Fraher, Nicole John-
son, Jamie Kaletcher, Michaela Moloney, Alexa Pepe, Stevie Roach, Taylor
Sammis, Alyssa Testa, and Stephanie Vayner, and Coach Kim Rhatigan and
Assistant Coach Vicki Vitale 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 Bethpage High School Gymnastics Team and to the aforemen-
tioned coaches.