O’Mara and Palmesano celebrate Corning-Painted Post state championships at the Capitol: State Senate and Assembly adopt Legislative Resolutions paying tribute to Cross Country and Competition Band champs

Albany, N.Y., March 26—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today welcomed the Corning-Painted Post Boys Cross Country and Competition Band state champions to the State Capitol, where their achievements were recognized by the Senate and Assembly.

[Watch Senator O'Mara remarks on the Senate floor today]

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “It is our great pleasure to host these state champions at the Capitol.  We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce them to our Senate and Assembly colleagues, and to help celebrate such memorable and remarkable accomplishments.  They exemplify the finest qualities of achievement, commitment to excellence, hard work and success, and they have made their school, their families, their community and our entire region very proud.”

The 2017 Cross Country team captured its second-straight New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class A state championship last November.

Last October, the Competition Band won the 2017 Large School Division 3 New York State Field Band Conference Championship.

Cross Country Head Coach Ray Lawson, who was named New York State Boys High School Coach of the Year for the second consecutive time in 2017, and Volunteer Coach Jim Derick accompanied the following runners to Albany: Quinn Nicholson, Dan Gahagan, Torrey Jacobson-Evans, Nathan Lawson, Bryce Derick, and Camden Zaidel.

The Competition Band was represented by Director Joe Stork and Drum Majors Connie Hou and Julienne Tsang.  Overall, the band includes 86 students: 44 wind players, 18 percussionists, 19 color guard members, three drum majors and two field crew members.

O’Mara and Palmesano presented the team and the band with copies of Legislative Resolutions unanimously adopted by the New York Senate and Assembly. 

The Legislative Resolution (J3650/K798) honoring the Cross Country champions reads, in part, “Head  Coach Ray Lawson, Assistant Coach Andrew Cartwright, volunteer Coaches Jim Derick and Tom Ketchum and all of the outstanding athletes on the Corning-Painted Post Boys Varsity Cross Country 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.”

The Legislative Resolution (J3648/K797) paying tribute to the Competition Band reads, in part, “ The  Corning-Painted  Post  High School Competition Band's achievements stand as a proud testament to the leadership of Band Director Joe Stork, the hard work of its members and the dedication of its parents, teachers,   administration and community-at-large, illustrating the spirit of excellence and achievement which is Corning-Painted Post High School's hallmark and tradition.”

O’Mara and Palmesano also sponsored a Legislative Resolution (J3649/K799) adopted by the Senate and Assembly earlier this year honoring Lawson for his Coach of the Year achievements.  The resolution reads, in part, “Ray Lawson's positive demeanor, selfless commitment, and caring concern  have contributed to his enduring success as a coach and mentor, earning him the just respect and admiration of his community, his peers, and the athletes he has so ably coached.”