2014 -- S 2297

========

LC004126

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ERNIE DEGREGORIO, JO-ANN D'ALESSANDRO, CATHY LANNI,

NANCY SANTOPADRE, CHERI SGAMBATO, CHRIS JONES, MICHELE YELLAND, LIZ

REIS, ANTHONY FIOCCO, JESSICA NELSON, STEPHANIE CORO, AUSTIN

VANBEMMELEN AND MICHAEL FERRANTE FOR BEING HONORED ON FEBRUARY

7, 2014 FOR SCORING 1,000 POINTS AS BASKETBALL PLAYERS AT NORTH

PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Ciccone, E O`Neill, Nesselbush, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, On Friday night on February 7, 2014, throngs of North Providence High

School sports alumni and supporters will congregate at the North Providence High School gym to

honor Ernie DeGregorio, Jo-Ann D’Alessandro, Cathy Lanni, Nancy Santopadre, Cheri

Sgambato, Michele Yelland, Liz Reis, Anthony Fiocco, Jessica Nelson, Stephanie Coro, Austin

VanBemmelen and Michael Ferrante for scoring 1,000 points or more during their distinguished

basketball-playing days at North Providence High School; and

     WHEREAS, Ernie DeGregorio, North Providence High School Class of 1968, is a North

Providence and Rhode Island basketball legend. After compiling a record at North Providence

High School that few other players, if any, have ever matched, he went on to play at Providence

College where he led his team to the 1973 NCAA Final Four and was named a national First

Team All-American. He then went on to have a distinguished NBA career where he was the third

selection in the 1973 NBA draft and was the winner of the 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year Award;

and

     WHEREAS, Jo-Ann D’Alessandro, Class of 1983, was an outstanding player at North

Providence. At one time she held the scoring points record at North Providence High School and

was an integral part of the 1983 North Providence Class B Rhode Island Championship Team.

She later went on to have a very successful playing career at Rhode Island College and is a

member of the Rhode Island College Athletic Hall of Fame; and

     WHEREAS, Cathy Lanni, Class of 1983, will forever be remembered by North

Providence sports enthusiasts for her remarkable performance in the 1983 Girls Basketball

Championship game against Central High School. She scored 32 points and dominated the game

while leading North Providence to a 71-55 victory. In the second half, with Central High School

making a run, Lanni responded by scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter and sealing the victory

for the Lady Cougars; and

     WHEREAS, Nancy Santopadre, Class of 1985, scored over 1,000 points in her

distinguished basketball career at North Providence, but she will be mostly remembered by the

North Providence faithful for scoring 15 points in the 1983 Rhode Island Girls Class B

Championship game. Her calm demeanor under pressure in that game belied her youthful

sophomore status and was a vital component towards her squad’s victory in that game; and

     WHEREAS, Cheri Sgambato graduated in 1990 and became the fourth lady to score

1,000 points for the North Providence Girls basketball program; and

     WHEREAS, Michele Yelland graduated in 1992 and became the fifth lady to score 1,000

points for the North Providence Girls basketball program; and

     WHEREAS, Liz Reis graduated in 1997 and was the last North Providence Girls

basketball player of the 20th century to score 1,000 points; and

     WHEREAS, Anthony Fiocco, Class of 2004, was a high-scoring guard during his playing

days at North Providence. He was a dynamic scorer capable of taking over a game and carrying

his team to victory; and

     WHEREAS, Jessica Nelson, Class of 2007, played forward for the North Providence

Girls’ Basketball Team, graduating in 2007. She was a tough presence on the blocks and led her

team in scoring and rebounding; and

     WHEREAS, Stephanie Coro, class of 2008, broke Jo-Ann D’Alessandro’s scoring record

for most points by a player in North Providence High School basketball history. She was her

team’s MVP as a senior and earned All-State, All-Class and All-Division honors in her high

school basketball career. She went on to have a distinguished basketball playing career at Rhode

Island College; and

     WHEREAS, Austin VanBemmelen, class of 2012, was a high scoring guard for the North

Providence Boys Basketball Team. He was named to the Second-Team All-State Basketball

Team and was named to the First Team All-Division II Basketball Team; and

     WHEREAS, Michael Ferrante, class of 2012, was a guard for the North Providence Boys

Basketball Team. He was named to the Second Team All Division II Basketball Team; now,

LC004126 - Page 2 of 3

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Ernie DeGregorio, Jo-Ann D’Alessandro, Cathy Lanni, Nancy Santopadre,

Cheri Sgambato, Michele Yelland, Liz Reis, Anthony Fiocco, Jessica Nelson, Stephanie Coro,

Austin VanBemmelen and Michael Ferrante on being honored by North Providence High School

for scoring 1,000 points during their exemplary basketball careers at North Providence High

School; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to North Providence High School Athletic

Director Mr. Glenn Williams.

========

LC004126

========

LC004126 - Page 3 of 3