2018 -- S 2925

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LC005657

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T 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: Senator Dennis L. Algiere

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2018

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, Unified sports brings together students with intellectual and developmental

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

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

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

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needs students together with their peers; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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overtime; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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Zazarra and Heather Bishop; now, therefore be it

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

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hereby congratulates the Westerly Unified Basketball Team for winning the Rhode Island

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Division III Championship; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Head Coach John Matthews.

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