Honor Track Star Jillian Shippee

Senate Resolution No. 1206 BY: Senator TEDISCO CONGRATULATING scholar-athlete Jillian Shippee upon the occasion of capturing both the 2017 New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship in the Weight Throw and the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championship in the Hammer Throw WHEREAS, Individual and team championships are highly sought after in high 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 young 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 scholar-athlete Jillian Shippee upon the occasion of capturing both the

2017 New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship in the Weight Throw on Sunday, March 12, 2017, at the Fort Washington Armory, in Harlem, New York, and the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championship in the Hammer Throw on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at the NC A&T Irwin Belk Track, in Greensboro, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, In events such as Hammer Throw, Weight Throw and Shot Put, which require steadfast dedication, long hours of training and unwavering determination, Head Throwing Coach Scott Dochat worked hard to hone the skills of this champion, teaching her lessons which will prove invaluable both in and out of the circle; and WHEREAS, A Senior at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York, Jillian Shippee holds the All-Time New York State Weight Throw record with an incredible distance of 65 feet 6 inches and the New York State Shot Put record of 43 feet 10.5 inches; and WHEREAS, Motivated, humbled and driven, Jillian Shippee advanced to Nationals; during the Weight Throw competition, she took an early lead in the preliminary round of two inches over the national leader; and WHEREAS, Keeping her momentum, Jillian Shippee added more than three feet to her leading throw in her first throw in finals; then again in the final throw, she added even more distance to finish with an impressive 65 feet 6 inches, an improvement of close to five feet over her previous personal record, ranking her 2nd All-Time in the United States for high school in Weight Throw; and WHEREAS, Determined to defend her 2016 National Outdoor Title, Jillian Shippee finished the 2017 National Outdoor meet with an incredible throw of 192 feet 10 inches, crushing last year's mark of 181 feet 1 inch by more than 11 feet; and WHEREAS, A young woman of superior athletic ability, Jillian Shippee is now a 4-time All-American, having previously captured Second Place in Weight Throw at the 2016 Indoor Nationals and First Place at the 2016 New Balance Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina, in Hammer Throw; furthermore, she was named the 2017 Times Union Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and a recipient of the prestigious Suburban Scholastic Council Athletic Director's "Excellence in Leadership" Award; and WHEREAS, Jillian Shippee, the daughter of David and Bonni Shippee, is a High Honor Roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, as well as President of her class; she will continue her education and athletic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; in addition to her primary Throwing Coach Scott Dochat, Jillian was trained under Shot Put Coach Michael Marino and former Throwing Olympian Paddy McGrath; and WHEREAS, In light of her recent accomplishments, Jillian Shippee has brought honor and just pride to her school and community on the local, State and National level; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate scholar-athlete Jillian Shippee upon the occasion of capturing both the 2017 New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship in the Weight Throw and the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championship in the Hammer Throw; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Jillian Shippee, Coach Scott Dochat, Coach Michael Marino, former Olympian Paddy McGrath, Athletic Director Christopher Culnan, and Superintendent Dr. Oliver Robinson.