State Senator Martin J. Golden honors Bay Ridge Prep basketball team

New York State Senator Martin J. Golden visited Bay Ridge Preparatory School on Friday, May 1, to give special recognition to the school's championship junior varsity boys basketball team.  In celebration of the team's victory in the championship game of the Private School Athletic Association in February, Senator Golden presented a New York State Senate Resolution commending the team on their achievements.

"I am so proud of the Bay Ridge Preparatory School Boys Junior Varsity Basketball Team for bringing the 2009 PSAA Championship home," Senator Golden said.  "I commend the faculty, staff, coaches, families and of course the team players, for an outstanding season.  The team members have proven themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents both academically and athletically.  On behalf of the New York State Senate, I present to the school a Senate Resolution commending and celebrating this achievement."

Speaking to the basketball team, Sen. Golden told them that the effort they put forth as a team transcends more than just their skills on the court.

“Working together as a team, having a strong unity can lead to many great things and we saw that happen when the team of your headmasters, Dr. Michael Dealy and Dr. Charles Fasano, opened Bay Ridge Prep,” Sen. Golden said.

On hand to accept the resolution were members of the championship team as well as NBA champion Tony Campbell, who serves as Director of Athletics and head basketball coach for Bay Ridge Prep.

"I thank Senator Golden for taking the time to visit us and recognize our student-athletes," Mr. Campbell said during the presentation.  "I have to reiterate that Bay Ridge Prep's mission in athletics is really about educating through positive experiences for our students.  Winning is not our number one priority, yet we are able to have championship seasons because of the extraordinary students we have and the extraordinary community that they're part of here at Bay Ridge Prep.”

Bay Ridge Prep's JV Boys Basketball team clinched the championship title in a February 12th game against the United Nations International School.  Struggling to keep up with UNIS throughout the first half of the game, Bay Ridge Prep came back after half-time and a fourth quarter surge led to a 70-65 win.  Other recent victories for the Bay Ridge Prep athletics program include the varsity baseball team finishing their 2008 season as Division II League Champions in the PSAA. Senior members of that team also went on to play in the league's All Star Game in May 2008.

Founded in 1998, Bay Ridge Preparatory School is an independent K-12 college preparatory school offering small class sizes, a strong academic program and a socially mature and positive learning environment. More information on Bay Ridge Prep Athletics can be found by visiting www.bayridgeprep.org/athletics.