[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATIONS TO BROOKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN E. PETERSON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 1999

  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 
the Brookville High School wrestling team--the 1999 Pennsylvania AA 
State Champions. In addition to their state title, the Raiders won the 
PIAA West Regional Dual Championship, the District IX Dual 
Championship, and the District IX Tournament Championship while 
amassing a dual meet record of 18-1. However, the program's victories 
on the mat were exceeded only by their inspirational drive to succeed 
in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
  I followed the emotional roller coaster ride that was the Brookville 
wrestling program over the past few years, and admire the commitment to 
achievement they maintained when similar obstacles may have defeated 
others. In January of last year, beloved Head Coach Len Ferraro passed 
away. A Brookville native, Coach Ferraro wrestled for Brookville High 
and later returned to the coaching staff in 1984 and took over head 
coach duties in 1993. Still healing from the loss of their coach, a 
dear friend of the program, Andrew Lentvorsky, was lost four weeks 
later. Grandfather to team senior Adam Steele, ``Pap''--as the gang 
called him--drove the boys to tournaments since their elementary days. 
Yet another tragedy occurred the following month with the passing of 
team senior Michael Lee Park. Despite suffering such emotional 
devastation in only a few short months, these young men managed to hold 
steadfast to Coach Ferraro's ultimate goal of delivering a State 
Championship to Brookville High.
  Nurturing his young wrestlers from any early age, Coach Ferraro 
developed an ever-improving wrestling program thirsting for a state 
title. His boys got that chance this year with the inaugural PIAA Dual 
Meet State Championships. Lead by Head Coach Thad Turner and Assistant 
Coaches Roland Reitz and Matthew Smith, the Raiders sought inspiration 
from senior Keith Ferraro, whose strength exhibited after the loss of 
his father is nothing short of heroic. Other seniors include Matt Geer, 
Jason Gilligan, Jason McKinney, Jeremy Reitz, Randy Stout, and B.J. 
Thomas. The junior team members are Casey Belfiore, James Bishop, Brad 
Cieleski, B.J. Darr, Garrett Hurd, Emil Johnson, Jeff McLaughlin, Eric 
Painter, and Clint Puller; along with sophomores Rudy Bullers, Gian 
DeLoia, Trevor Doust, Joel Hammond, Mark Himes, Mike Miller, Josh 
Sammons, and Justin Steiner; as well as freshman Nick Neil.
  For Brookville High School, the 1999 wrestling season demonstrates 
not only greatness of body and mind, but also perseverance of spirit. 
Mr. Speaker, as their classmates and community celebrate their 
inspiring accomplishments today back in Pennsylvania, I ask you to join 
me in thanking the young men and coaches of the Brookville Raider 
wrestling team for showing us all that even the shadow of adversity, 
continued belief in a unifying goal will bring shinning success.

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