Senate Resolution No. 1861
BY: Senator BORRELLO
CONGRATULATING the Notre Dame High School Girls
Varsity Basketball Team upon the occasion of
capturing the 2026 NYSPHSAA Class D Girls Varsity
Basketball Championship
WHEREAS, Individual and team championships are highly sought after
in 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 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 the
Notre Dame High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team upon the occasion
of capturing the 2026 NYSPHSAA Class D Girls Varsity Basketball
Championship at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, on
Friday, March 20, 2026; and
WHEREAS, This victory reflects not only the athletes' exceptional
talent and perseverance but also the spirit of sportsmanship and
community pride that defines interscholastic athletics in New York
State; NYSPHSAA proudly presents 38 State Championship events each year,
celebrating the dedication of more than 450,000 student-athletes who
continually inspire us through their commitment to excellence; and
WHEREAS, To the applause of their excited fans, the Notre Dame Irish
defeated the previously unbeaten Chateaugay High School's Bulldogs in a
thrilling victory, finishing with a score of 65-49, the third NYSPHSAA
title in program history, previously won in 1999 and 2013; their journey
to the championship stands as a testament to the power of teamwork, hard
work, and unwavering determination; and
WHEREAS, Family, friends, and the community loyally and
enthusiastically supported the Irish; the two teams traded buckets
during the entire third quarter, leaving the margin at 39-38 in favor of
the Irish entering the fourth quarter; Notre Dame outscored the Bulldogs
26-11 in the final eight minutes; and
WHEREAS, In a sport, such as basketball, which demands athletic
prowess, speed, and agility, Head Coach Vinny Falleti and his incredible
coaching staff worked hard to hone the skills of this championship team,
teaching these outstanding athletes lessons which will prove invaluable
both on and off the court; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Vinny Falleti, the coaching staff, and all the
outstanding athletes on the Notre Dame High School Girls Varsity
Basketball Team have clearly utilized dedication, determination, and
teamwork in providing a lasting contribution to the spirit of excellence
which is a tradition of their school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the members of the Notre Dame High School Girls Varsity
Basketball Team: Sofia Falleti, Shirley Thompson, Quinn Boardman,
Clairissa Milliman, Gianna Falleti, Penny Jo Thompson, Emma Fitch, Riley
Yunker, Harper Ferris, Lillian Thompson, Layla Vasciannie, Lucia
Fiorentino, and Madelyn Casey upon the occasion of capturing the 2026
NYSPHSAA Class D Girls Varsity Basketball Championship; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of the Notre Dame High School Girls Varsity
Basketball Team; Head Coach Vinny Falleti; and Assistant Coach Joe
Bezon.
