2023 -- H 6146

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE SMITHFIELD SENTINELS ON COMPILING A PERFECT

SEASON AND WINNING THE DIVISION IV FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Rea, Costantino, Chippendale, Blazejewski, Newberry,
Quattrocchi, Roberts, Kennedy, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: March 09, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Smithfield Sentinels put together one of the greatest seasons in Rhode

Island High School football history in 2022, finishing 11-0, winning the State Title, and

outscoring the opposition during the season by an incredible 184 points, scoring 268 points and

only yielding 84 points; and

     WHEREAS, The Sentinels came a long way in 2022 from their humble beginnings as

Freshmen who had never played together and, did not win a single game. These young athletes

had to endure a difficult 2020 spring season, observing COVID protocols and wearing masks on

the field. In 2021, while still following the mask protocols, they improved to finish 6-6 and

clearly became a squad to be reckoned with in 2022; and

     WHEREAS, In their dominating 2022 season, Smithfield finished first in the Division IV

Football Standings and earned a one seed in the Playoffs. In the first round game, the Sentinels

found themselves in a deep hole, losing 13-0 to Exeter/West Greenwich/Prout. However,

champions always seem to find a way to climb back from adversity and the Sentinels were not to

be denied, scoring 23 points in a row thanks to the outstanding play of quarterback Joey Smith,

the tough running provided by running backs Ryan Flynn and A.J. Hetu, some big catches

provided by receivers Chris Currie and Gavin Trust, and a defense that stiffened after a slow start

and shut out the opposition the rest of the way; and

     WHEREAS, In the Championship game, Smithfield faced off against arch-rival Central

Falls/Blackstone Valley Prep, a team that only had one loss going into the title game. In a hard-

hitting and closely fought game that was tied at halftime, the Sentinels emerged victorious 18-6

thanks to a pick 6 interception by A.J. Hetu and a dazzling performance by Running Back Ryan

Flynn, the Most Valuable Player of the game; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship in a team sport is a difficult achievement

that can only happen if every player on the team gives their all and is exclusively focused on team

goals rather than individual aspirations. The Smithfield sentinels had those qualities in abundance

in 2022, thanks to the important contributions provided by Joey Smith, Michael Villandry, James

Norberg, Albert Hetu, Currie Christopher, Jordan Hurst, Marc St. Martin, Aaron Archambault,

Christopher Gliottone, Jesse Garneau, Gavin Trost, Cody Trost, Curtis Ruotolo, John Fabiano,

Drew Buteau, Sawyer Powell, Chukwuemeka Ezeama, Noah Isble, Ryan Flynn, Lucas Bilotti,

Gennaro Ursillo, Josh Gallagher, Eric Basile, Zachary Sweet, Connor Fochler, Gavin Cafferty,

Bradyn Shadoian, Jake Gulino, Sean Trainor, Kenneth Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacob

Petrucci, Ralph Farrar, Trevor Morgan, Seth Borges, Nathan Hall, Donato Sparadeo, Ray Porter,

Anthony Costanzo, Nicholas Costanzo, Benjamin Cicchitelli, Joseph Sala, Lily Ford, Phillip

DiPaolo, Garrett Moroni, Giovanni Rea, Lex Tremblay, Alex Henson, Nathan Chaput, Nathan

Dorsey, Nicholas Cichon, Ryan Gendron, Jack Menard, Joseph O'Keefe, Shane Trainor, and

Nicholas Collins. The Sentinels also benefitted all season from the outstanding coaching and

leadership provided by Head Coach Glenn Castiglia, Assistant Coaches Jim Connell, Kyle Purvis,

Zackery Ortega, Aaron Brown-Smith and Lorenzo Garcia; now, therefore be it

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

heartily congratulates the Smithfield Sentinels Football Team on winning the Rhode Island

Division IV Football 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 Smithfield Head Football Coach Glenn

Castiglia.

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