LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Ossining High School Girls
Basketball Team and Coach Dan Ricci upon the occasion of capturing the
NYSPHSAA Class AA 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, On March 16, 2013, the Ossining High School Girls Basketball
Team won its first State Championship since 1967 by beating Gates-Chili
by a score of 86-69 at Hudson Valley Community College; and
WHEREAS, The Ossining Pride began their quest into the state tourna-
ment by capturing the Section I championship on March 3, 2013, over Our
Lady of Lourdes by the score of 69-49; on March 10, 2013, Ossining won
the regional title by defeating Monroe-Woodbury by a score of 79-50; and
in the state semifinal, Ossining defeated Sachem East by a score of
86-69; and
WHEREAS, Playing in their school's colors of maroon and white, the
team's overall record of 22-5 was most outstanding, and the team members
were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, friends, fans,
and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the team members have proven
themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents; along with their
success on the court, the team was awarded the NYSPHSAA Scholar Team
Award for maintaining a 90 or above team average during the season; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Dan Ricci and the outstanding athletes on the
Ossining High School Girls Basketball Team have clearly made a contrib-
ution 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 Ossining High School Girls Basketball Team, its
members: Valerie Andujar, Alexandra Cristello, Lydia Davis, Andra Espi-
noza-Hunter, Maria Estupinan, Jalay Knowles, Christine Kopera, Kathryn
Polletta, Shadeen Samuels, Melanie Silverstein, Abby Squirrell, Madison
Strippoli, Stephanie Svoboda, Saniya Chong, Daniella Ferrao, and
Danielle Gervacio, along with Coach Dan Ricci and Assistance Coaches Pat
Wheeler, Jose Ferrao, Stephanie Leveille, and Kelsey Vallach, as well as
their team Trainer Luis Iglesias 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 Ossining High School Girls Basketball Team and to the
aforementioned coaches.