LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Ossining High School Girls
Varsity Basketball Team and Head Coach Dan Ricci upon the occasion of
capturing their fourth consecutive New York State Public High School
Athletic Association Class AA State Championship and winning its first
ever Federation Tournament of Champions

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, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the
Ossining High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team upon the occasion of
capturing their 4th consecutive New York State Public High School
Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class AA State Championship; and
WHEREAS, The Ossining Pride Girls Basketball Team defeated Shenendeho-
wa 69-66 to win their fourth consecutive NYSPHSAA Class AA Title on
Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, New
York; and
WHEREAS, The Ossining Pride played excellent basketball throughout the
season, defying expectations by reaching the championship game despite
being a young team with few returning players from last year's title
winning team; and
WHEREAS, The remarkable talent and perseverance displayed by this team
is due in great part to the efforts of Coach Dan Ricci and his team of
outstanding assistant coaches, skilled and inspirational tutors,
respected for their ability to develop potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record, 28-2, 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 Ossining High School Girls Varsity
Basketball Team, from the opening game of the season to participation in
the Championship, were a sisterhood of athletic ability, of good sports-
manship, of honor and of scholarship, demonstrating that these team
players are second to none; and
WHEREAS, The Ossining Girls Varsity Basketball Team also won the
Federation Championship on March 19, 2016 at the Albany Times Union
Center where they defeated Long Island Lutheran School with a score of
64-54; and
WHEREAS, At one point they were trailing by 17 points, but overcame
adversity to become the best women's basketball team in New York State;
this historic comeback win shows the drive and determination the young
women from Ossining possess; 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 Dan Ricci 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 Coach Dan Ricci and these outstanding athletes 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 Ossining High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team; its
members: Gabriella Ferrao, Jaida Strippoli, Kelsey Quain, Zaira Turner,
Alexis Bernardo, Adriana McFadden, Shadeen Samuels, Angela Torricella,
Alyssa Aurora, Sam Cozzolino, Cassidy Martinez, Helen Ishmael, Kailah
Harris, and Aubrey Griffin; Coach Dan Ricci and 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 members of the Ossining High School Girls Varsity Basket-
ball Team, Coach Dan Ricci, Trainer Luis Iglesias, and the assistant
coaches.