[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E91]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SIXTH GRADE ALL-STAR BASKETBALL EXCHANGE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of thirteen of 
my young constituents, and in recognition of the organizers of the 
Thirty-seventh Annual Potomac, Maryland/Windsor Locks, Connecticut 
sixth Grade All-Star Basketball Exchange, which took place this past 
weekend, February 1-3.
  For the past thirty-seven years, the best sixth grade basketball 
players from Potomac, MD and Windsor Locks, CT have met to compete and 
to forge friendships that span 300 miles of Atlantic coastline. The 
exchange began in 1965 when two gentlemen, an Allegheny Airline pilot 
from Maryland and a Bradley Airport manager from Connecticut made a 
friendly bet on whose sixth grade basketball team was better. Every 
year since, parents and children from Potomac and Windsor Locks have 
contributed memories to the history of the exchange. This year, the 
weekend culminated in a Saturday night showdown at the MCI center, here 
in Washington. I can proudly announce to you that the game was won by 
the team from Potomac. The big weekend followed a January trip to the 
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the boys 
got a chance to learn about the history and development of the game.
  The Potomac team, coached by Rick Brown, consisted of Jamie Bloom, 
A.J. Brown, Brian Casey, Ben Chernow, Matt Grady, Mike Giannangeli, Ian 
Hendrie, Kyle Moshkin, Matt Nunez, Brendan Oldham, Colter Phillips, 
Blake Toll, and Ezra Weisel. The Connecticut team was coached by Mike 
Heneghan and Mike Barile. The team's players were Kevin Barile, Spencer 
Bernard, Kyle Cirillo, Bryan Doherty, Jose Forbes, Ryan Gilbert, Kevin 
Landry, Steve McVey, Geoff Oliveira, Tyler Pepin, Tim Quagliarolli and 
Matt Wadsworth.
  In these days when the term ``National Unity'' seems to be heard on a 
daily basis, these boys and their parents have bridged a geographic gap 
and come together on the basketball court. While this tradition has 
been wonderful for each of its thirty-seven years, this year it serves 
a special role in reminding us all that while our country is vast and 
diverse, we need not a national tragedy to bring us together, but 
instead only a common interest.
  I am proud of these athletic young constituents, their parents, and 
all those who have gone before them to make this anniversary possible. 
Please join me in applauding these young people, and in wishing the 
organizers the best of luck in continuing to bring together the sixth 
graders of Maryland and Connecticut.

                          ____________________