Honor Emily Lavarnway's Victory

Senate Resolution No. 3017 BY: Senator HELMING CONGRATULATING scholar-athlete Emily Lavarnway upon the occasion of capturing the overall pentathlon title in the 2017 NYSPHSAA Division II Girls Track and Field Championship on June 10, 2017 WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical development of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and WHEREAS, A standout senior athlete for the South Seneca Falcons, Emily Lavarnway earned her second New York State Championship in the pentathlon on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, New York; and WHEREAS, Emily Lavarnway also captured the Federation overall championship with the highest pentathlon score of 3,363 points; and WHEREAS, Emily Lavarnway was in fifth place overall going into the last event, the 800-meter run; knowing she had to run her best race, she kicked it in on the last lap, winning first place with a personal best time of 2:19.17; and WHEREAS, In addition to her stellar success in the New York State Championship, Emily Lavarnway had an exceptional season in track and field; a dominant force, she regularly swept her four events during Wayne-Finger Lakes track meets; and WHEREAS, Emily Lavarnway won the league championship, where she was awarded with both All-League and Top Female Athlete honors; the Section V competition, where she swept all four open events entered and set two stadium records; and State Qualifiers, where she won the pentathlon and garnered Top Section V Female Track Athlete honors; and WHEREAS, Despite all of her monumental success, Emily Lavarnway has always remained the consummate sportswoman, demonstrating humility, compassion, and respect for her fellow teammates, athletes, coaches, and officials; at the start of the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championship, she was presented with the Section V Small School Good Sportsmanship Award; and WHEREAS, Emily Lavarnway is not only a talented athlete, but also an exceptional student; she was one of only four students this year to graduate with 40+ dual-enrollment college credits from Tompkins-Cortland Community College, and was the only female student this year to take AP Calculus; and WHEREAS, After graduation, Emily Lavarnway plans to attend the State University of New York at Geneseo, where she will surely continue to excel in both sports and academics; and WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by Emily Lavarnway is due in great part to the efforts of Coach David Zietz, a skilled and inspirational tutor, respected for his ability to develop potential into excellence; and WHEREAS, Emily Lavarnway's overall record is outstanding; she was loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans, friends and the community at large; and WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, Emily Lavarnway has proven herself to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting favorably on her school; and WHEREAS, Coach David Zeitz has done a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring Emily Lavarnway towards her goals; and WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and accomplishment, and Coach David Zeitz and Emily Lavarnway have clearly made a 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 scholar-athlete Emily Lavarnway upon the occasion of capturing the overall pentathlon title in the 2017 NYSPHSAA Division II Girls Track and Field Championship on June 10, 2017; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Emily Lavarnway and Coach David Zeitz.