February 24, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE….
Contact: Candace Ouillette Gaumond: 413.599.4785

CANDARAS HOSTS DIVISION II CHAMPIONS

WILBRAHAM – State Representative Gale D. Candaras (D-Wilbraham) hosted the East Longmeadow Girl’s Soccer Team, the Spartans, at the State House on February 5th. Attending the event were State Representative Mary Rogeness (R- Longmeadow) and Senator Brian Lees (R. East Longmeadow). The legislators lauded team members for winning the Division II State Girls Soccer Championship:

“What these young women have accomplished is extraordinary and they deserve to be recognized for their talents. Today, it’s hard to imagine that, before the passage of Title IX, women did not have opportunities to play competitive sports no less go all the way to state championships.” Candaras said.

The groundbreaking law, passed by Congress in 1973, required schools that accepted federal funds to provide equal opportunities for young women to participate in sports:

“Think of the years of lost opportunities for virtually half the population before Congress passed the federal law. We participated as cheerleaders or we could not participate at all! The girls really learned to play hard as a team to get them where they are now,” said Candaras. “I told them to remember the importance of being a ‘team player’ throughout their lives savor this once in a lifetime moment!

The team, together with their coach, Gil Gansalves, assistant coaches, and the High School Principal, were treated to a tour of the State House, a pizza luncheon, and a group photo taken inside the House Chambers. The girls and coaches were also presented with congratulatory citations. Candaras planned to present the Team to House members during formal session but scheduling difficulties thwarted the plan. The custom is for all 160 house members to cheer state champions.

Wilbraham Public Access Television (WPA) traveled to Boston to tape the program, which will air on Wilbraham and East Longmeadow’s public access channels in the near future.