Commissioners Recognize Wood's Championship Team

The county commissioners yesterday made a proclamation recognizing the girls’ basketball team, which captured its last month. Chairman Charlie Martin proclaimed the day “Archbishop Wood Girls’ Basketball Back-to-Back State Champions Day.” The Lady Vikings were represented at the meeting by seniors Christine Verrelle, Victoria Arnao, Stephanie Keyes, Jenna Swope, Aubrey Howland, Caitlin McCartney and Grace Mirack. Over the last two years, Archbishop Wood compiled a 53-9 overall record under the direction of head coach Jim Ricci and assistant coaches John Gallagher, Kasey Oczkowski and Cait Slover.

Here's the text from the offical proclamation:

WHEREAS, the Archbishop Wood Lady Vikings girls’ basketball team recently completed a magical season that included a 27-4 record, punctuated by a 53-41 victory over Mercyhurst Prep on March 25 in the PIAA Class AAA state girls’ basketball championship game; and

WHEREAS, not only was the Lady Vikings’ state crown their second consecutive Class AAA title, they also captured top honors in PIAA District 12 and won the program’s first Philadelphia Catholic League championship since 1982; and

WHEREAS, fifth-year head coach Jim Ricci’s squad was led by senior stalwarts Christine Verrelle, Victoria Arnao, Stephanie Keyes, Jenna Swope, Aubrey Howland, Caitlin McCartney and Grace Mirack; and

WHEREAS, in this year’s state championship game at State College, Verrelle led the way with 16 points and received strong support from Keyes (13 points), Arnao (10 points and 11 rebounds) and McCartney (nine points); and

 WHEREAS, the Lady Vikings award-winning roster also included juniors Taylor Kaminski, Lauren Nealon and Alex Heck; sophomores Colleen Young, Jackie Pierson, Madison Tamburini, and Haley Scullion; and freshmen Rachel Day, Laura Trisch, Jess Kaminski and Brittany Keyes; and 

WHEREAS, this season’s championship gives Archbishop Wood a two-year record of 53-9, including a March, 2010 state championship win over Indiana Area High.

NOW THEREFORE, do we, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners, Chairman Charles H. Martin, Robert G. Loughery and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW proclaim April 20, 2011 as “ARCHBISHOP WOOD GIRLS’ BASKETBALL BACK-TO-BACK STATE CHAMPIONS DAY” throughout the County of Bucks.

In so doing, we congratulate the Lady Vikings for their mental and physical toughness in achieving their goal of consecutive state championships. We wish the seniors great success in all of their future pursuits, while extending our good wishes for the future of the Archbishop Wood girls’ basketball program.

Charles H. Martin, Chairman

Robert G. Loughery

Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW

Lynn T. Bush, Chief Clerk