Senate Resolution No. 2811

BY: Senator KAMINSKY

CONGRATULATING Dunia Sibomana upon the occasion of
capturing the 102-pound Division I wrestling title
at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships on February
26, 2022

WHEREAS, Individual and team championships are highly sought after
in high school sports; this Legislative Body commends rare athletic
achievements and pays special recognition to those who pursue such
excellence and become examples for the youth of this great Empire State;
and

WHEREAS, Athletic competition helps to enhance both the moral and
physical development of young athletes, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the importance of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Dunia
Sibomana upon the occasion of capturing the 102-pound Division I
wrestling title at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday,
February 26, 2022, at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, In front of a capacity crowd and a fan base of family,
friends and teammates, number three seed Dunia Sibomana earned a fall in
1:32 over his number one seed opponent from Chenango Forks High School,
giving Long Beach High School its 17th state title; and

WHEREAS, In addition to this monumental feat, Dunia Sibomana won his
first three matches in the tournament by a combined score of 35-7; and

WHEREAS, An eighth-grade wrestler for the Long Beach Marines, Dunia
Sibomana ended his season with an impressive overall record; and

WHEREAS, Dunia Sibomana's life has not always been so happy; when he
was a

six-year-old, he and two of his family members were playing near
Virunga National Park, a vast animal reserve, in the Congo in Central
Africa, when a pack of wild chimpanzees attacked the children; and

WHEREAS, Fortunately, a park ranger found him and sought medical
care; Dunia Sibomana lost the middle finger of his left hand and
suffered life-altering facial injuries which made it very difficult for
him to swallow or talk; and

WHEREAS, Dunia Siboman underwent a couple of preliminary surgeries
in the Congo, however, the injuries were too intricate for the African
hospitals; and

WHEREAS, Through the non-profit organization Smile Rescue Fund for
Kids, Dunia Sibomana was brought to the United States in November of
2015 for more advanced reparative procedures under the care of Dr.
Alexander Dagum at Stony Brook University Hospital; since then, he has

undergone 14 surgeries to restore his appearance and facial function,
all free of charge; and

WHEREAS, Dunia Sibomana was adopted by Long Beach Assistant
Wrestling Coach Miguel Rodriguez and his wife, Marissa, and began his
wrestling career with the Gladiators youth wrestling program where he
quickly became a star; in 2019, he became a permanent United States
resident; and

WHEREAS, Due to the tireless efforts of his family, surgeons and
Smile Rescue Fund for Kids, Dunia Sibomana's life has truly been
transformed; today, he is an honor student and enjoys playing soccer and
running track, as well as winning wrestling matches; and

WHEREAS, In a sport such as wrestling, which demands athletic
prowess, speed and agility, Coach Ray Adams worked hard to hone the
skills of this champion, teaching this outstanding athlete lessons which
will prove invaluable both on and off the mat; and

WHEREAS, Dunia Sibomana has clearly utilized dedication,
determination and teamwork in providing a lasting contribution to the
spirit of excellence which is a tradition of his school; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Dunia Sibomana upon the occasion of capturing the 102-pound
Division I wrestling title at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dunia Sibomana and Coach Ray Adams.