[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONGRATULATORY REMARKS FOR BROOKLYN COLLEGE ACADEMY 
                  HIGH SCHOOL BOBCATS BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Brooklyn 
College Academy High School Bobcats basketball team on winning the 2009 
PSAL Brooklyn West B Division title. On March 27, 2009, co-coaches 
Alicia Braswell and Paul Wallace inspired their team, which was ranked 
26th out of 38 through the bottom half of the bracket to the finals and 
the win. What makes this win not only inspiring but historic is that it 
is the first time a female coach has ever led a team to the men's 
division title in the history of the tournament. Players Keyon Aigle, 
Christoph Bristol, Denzel Duchenne, Craig Gooden, Lesner Guerrier, 
Jamaal James, Raheem Mack, Jaren Mansano, Kristian Moreno, Alexandre 
Pages, Jose Perez, Tarik Phillip, Onyma Utti, and Equipment Manager 
Cassandra Mark played the Brooklyn way and deserved the admiration of 
all of us here. Principal Nick Mazzarella also deserves our respect and 
admiration for selecting a female coach to help guide his school to the 
title. This progressive and forward-thinking approach to athletic 
hiring has paid dividends not only for the Bobcats, but is also another 
step forward in the fight for gender equality in athletics. I am proud 
and deeply honored to represent Brooklyn College Academy High School 
and provide it as an example to all of what's possible when playing 
fields are leveled and all are given an opportunity to excel regardless 
of gender.

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