Providence Student-Athletes Honored at City Hall

Mayor hosts Providence high school teams and individuals that competed for state and regional championships during the spring sports season.

Mayor Taveras and the Providence Public School District hosted a pizza party for student athletes from across Providence this evening at City Hall. Mayor Taveras and Superintendent Dr. Susan Lusi honored the city's high school teams and individual athletes who competed for state and regional championships during the spring 2013 sports season.

"Sports keep our youth active and engaged, and provide important lessons on teamwork, leadership and discipline," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "Our students are most successful when they carry these lessons from the sports field to the classroom. We are proud of our student athletes for their accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom."

The teams and individuals honored at the event include:

• Classical High School girls' track and field team - state champions
• Hope High School unified basketball team - state champions
• Members of Hope High School boys' track and field team - State, NE level participants
• Juanita Sanchez girls' softball team - division III runners up
• Members of Mt. Pleasant High School boys' track and field team - State, NE participants
• Members of Central High School boys' track and field team - State, NE participants
• Central High School boys' varsity volleyball team - division champions, division II state runners up
• Central High School boys' varsity baseball team - state semi-finalists

"Our student athletes make us all proud as they represent their schools and their community throughout the season and at the highest level of athletic competition," said Dr. Lusi. "We are confident that the skills and discipline they have honed will serve them well throughout their schooling and in life, and we hope that these memories will last them a lifetime."

During a brief speaking program, students heard from Vismark Maria-Gonzalez, an alumnus and athletic director at Hope High School. Maria-Gonzalez is also the girls' softball coach, assistant girls' basketball coach and physical education teacher at Stuart Middle School. He spoke powerfully about the important role sports played in his own upbringing.

Each season, Mayor Taveras and members of his administration open City Hall to Providence Public School athletes who compete for state, regional and national championships.