LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Ward Melville High School Boys
Lacrosse Team and Coach Mike Hoppey upon the occasion of capturing the
New York State Class A 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 Ward Melville High School Boys Lacrosse Team are the New
York State Class A Champions; the Patriots defeated West Genesee High
School by a 16-4 score on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at St. John Fisher
College in Pittsford, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Patriots finish as the Nation's No. 1 ranked team; being
the eighth title in school history, the team last won the state champi-
onship in 2000; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of 32-year Ward Melville Coach Mike Hoppey, a
skilled and inspirational tutor, respected for his ability to develop
potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record of 22-0 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 Ward Melville High School Boys Lacrosse
Team, from the opening game of the season to participation in the cham-
pionship, were a brotherhood 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 their school; and
WHEREAS, Coach Mike Hoppey and his dedicated staff 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 Mike Hoppey and his outstanding athletes have clear-
ly 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 Ward Melville High School Boys Lacrosse Team; its
members: Matthew Befumo, Tyler Blansfield, Jeffrey Bohn, Jack Bruckner,
Daniel Bucaro, Anthony Carollo, Michael Cirrone, Michael Cusmano, John
Day, Daniel Decker, Fabrizio Declan, Brendan Dooley, Kevin Doherty,
David Gibbs, John Grauwiler, Brendan Hegarty, Thomas Kellerman, Jake
Kepes, James Kickel, Adam Lapitino, Michael Lee, Christian Mazzone,
Conor McAvoy, Jake McCulloch, Kevin McKeever, Robert Mendez, Thomas
Moore, Daniel Nemirov, Timothy Petraco, Thomas Reilly, Patrick Roarty,
Sean Roche, James Seydel, Brendan Simpson, Andrew Tirelli, Michael Troy,
Eric Wang, Ryan Wiberly, and Michael Zerbo and Coach Mike Hoppey upon
the occasion of capturing the New York State Class A Championship; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ward Melville High School Boys Lacrosse Team and to Coach
Mike Hoppey.