SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8714

By Senators Hewitt, Hale, Sheldon, B., Sheahan and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, On November 1, 2001, the freshman football teams from Walla Walla High School and Richland High School met on the field two days after the football-injury death of Walla Walla running back and lineman, fifteen-year-old John Quaresma; and

     WHEREAS, the Walla Walla Blue Devils wore an emblem on their helmets with John=s jersey number, 22, and parents and fans sat in the stands with photo buttons of John in his football jersey pinned to their coats; and

     WHEREAS, players from both teams felt the sadness of the hole in the Blue Devils line-up as the game began, but played hard with both teams scoring; and

     WHEREAS, with three minutes left in the game and the Blue Devils leading by 26 to 18, a Bombers player lay motionless on the ground after the lines clashed; and

     WHEREAS, the Richland coaches and the Walla Walla trainer ran onto the field and players from both teams stood helmets in hand as Bomber=s Kyle Conley spoke but did not move and was placed on a backboard by paramedics and taken to the hospital by ambulance; and

     WHEREAS, players, coaches, parents and fans were not to learn until later that Conley would be OK; and

     WHEREAS, the Blue Devils and Bombers decided to end the game with 2 minutes and 34 seconds left on the clock B declaring the Blue Devils victorious; and

     WHEREAS, both teams lined up on the 50-yard-line to shake hands as their parents, classmates, and community supporters cheered; and

     WHEREAS, the compassion and sportsmanship of the Richland and Walla Walla players  and their coaches on November 1 exemplifies the true spirit of competitive sports; and

     WHEREAS, the parents, classmates and communities of these teams have reason to be proud of each individual player, their coaches and team assistants;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, that the freshman football teams of Walla Walla High School and Richland High School be honored for their maturity, compassion and sportsmanship; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the coaches and parents of the Blue Devils and Bombers team members be commended for their leadership and support of these young men throughout the season and especially during the difficult days around November 1; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be dedicated to the memory of Blue Devils team member John Quaresma; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted to Jerry and Laure Quaresma, parents of John Quaresma; Blue Devils= Athletic Director, Don Wilkins; Blue Devils= Coaches Marc Yonts, Mike Gobel, Jim Smith, Keven Peck and Jason Parsons; Blue Devils= team players Kenny Yetter-Baisch, Brian Bloomberg, Charles Buettner, Greg Dixon, Chris Flippo, Marquelle Fowler, Adam Frol, Ben Garcia, Hank Hager, Andrew Hartzheim, Charlie Higgenbotham, Squire Johnson, Jacob Klingenberg, Michael Land, Kenny Langis, Lance Lybecker, Jared Manning, Aaron Meister, Trevor Nix, Zackary Porter, Juan Rodriguez, Kyle Rouse, Juan Ruiz, Jose Sandoval, Justin Schmidt, Logan Spence, Jeremy Teal, Eduard Velazquez, Anthony Wickham and Zac Young; Bombers= Athletic Director, Steve Potter; Bombers= Coaches Jim Deatherage, Kevin Norris, and Chuck Bender; Bombers= team players Scott Albin, Mike Biddle, Tony Calapristi, Nick Capron, Nick Casqueiro, Nick Cejka, Kyle Conley, Cody Cooper, Cody Dahlman, J.J. Davidson, Kyle Devior, Chris Dickinson, Chase Egbert, Jared Feaster, Rodney Fetter, Brandon Garret, Victor Garza, Brian Giever, Blake Goplin, Blake Gutierrez, Matt Hardman, Craig Hofferber, John Huebner, Alex Ironside, Ian Johnston, Donald Koberg, Derrick Larche, Alex McLain, Derrick Mickle, Steven Miska, Bobby Neill, Brandon Ricci, Tyler Roberts, Michael Robinson, James Rogers, Austin Schiefelbein, Derrick Schultz, James Shanley, Corey Sinclair, Mark Skavdahl, Quincy Stowe, Andrew Verhulp, John Whiteley and Dana Wheeler.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8714,

adopted by the Senate January 30, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate