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.