2018 -- H 8259

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE WESTERLY UNIFIED BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING

THE RHODE ISLAND DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Kennedy, Filippi, Morgan, and Mattiello

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Unified sports brings together students with intellectual and developmental

disabilities - athletes - and students without disabilities, called partners, in athletic competition. In

Unified Basketball, three athletes team up with two partners, with the athletes being allowed to

shoot while the partners rebound, dribble and pass. Unified sports is a way of bringing special

needs students together with their peers; and

     WHEREAS, In the 2018 regular season, the Westerly Unified Team compiled a perfect

5-0 record. In the playoffs they advanced to the championship where they met the East

Providence Unified Basketball Team. In a thrilling game played at La Salle Academy, Westerly

completed a perfect season by defeating East Providence in overtime by the score of 35-31 to win

the Division III Championship. In a nail-biting game with numerous lead changes, Westerly

ultimately prevailed thanks to clutch baskets scored by Anthony Ramirez and Antwone Brown in

overtime; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a state title in any sport is an immense achievement, one that

requires that every player on the team gives one hundred percent and works seamlessly with their

teammates as each member places team goals ahead of individual aspirations. The Westerly

Unified Team had these traits in abundance as they were led all season by the sterling play

provided by Alex Morgan, Ray Hill, Max Pittle, Jenna Dubois, Kesha Whitmore, Shelby Lewis,

Luke Fallon, Neil Damon, Mike Goldberg, Max Davis, Syonna Perry, Pierce Abosso, Jordan

Ballata, Brianna Falco, Jonathan Gauccione, JP Sergi, Brittany Gray, Peter Henry, Mitchell

Gomes, Andrew Salama, Anderson Manfred, Anthony Ramirez, Antwone Brown, Devin Gauvin

and Emily Gauvin. The Westerly Unified Basketball Team also benefited all season by the superb

coaching and leadership provided by Head Coach John Matthews and Assistant Coaches Zack

Zazarra and Heather Bishop; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the Westerly Unified Basketball Team for winning

the Rhode Island Division III Championship; 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 Head Coach John Matthews.

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