2023 -- H 6146
========
LC000295
========
S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CONGRATULATING THE SMITHFIELD SENTINELS ON COMPILING A PERFECT
SEASON AND WINNING THE DIVISION IV FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Introduced By: Representatives Rea, Costantino, Chippendale, Blazejewski, Newberry,
Quattrocchi, Roberts, Kennedy, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello
Date Introduced: March 09, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The Smithfield Sentinels put together one of the greatest seasons in Rhode 1
Island High School football history in 2022, finishing 11-0, winning the State Title, and 2
outscoring the opposition during the season by an incredible 184 points, scoring 268 points and 3
only yielding 84 points; and 4
WHEREAS, The Sentinels came a long way in 2022 from their humble beginnings as 5
Freshmen who had never played together and, did not win a single game. These young athletes 6
had to endure a difficult 2020 spring season, observing COVID protocols and wearing masks on 7
the field. In 2021, while still following the mask protocols, they improved to finish 6-6 and 8
clearly became a squad to be reckoned with in 2022; and 9
WHEREAS, In their dominating 2022 season, Smithfield finished first in the Division IV 10
Football Standings and earned a one seed in the Playoffs. In the first round game, the Sentinels 11
found themselves in a deep hole, losing 13-0 to Exeter/West Greenwich/Prout. However, 12
champions always seem to find a way to climb back from adversity and the Sentinels were not to 13
be denied, scoring 23 points in a row thanks to the outstanding play of quarterback Joey Smith, 14
the tough running provided by running backs Ryan Flynn and A.J. Hetu, some big catches 15
provided by receivers Chris Currie and Gavin Trust, and a defense that stiffened after a slow start 16
and shut out the opposition the rest of the way; and 17
WHEREAS, In the Championship game, Smithfield faced off against arch-rival Central 18
Falls/Blackstone Valley Prep, a team that only had one loss going into the title game. In a hard-19
LC000295 - Page 2 of 2
hitting and closely fought game that was tied at halftime, the Sentinels emerged victorious 18-6 1
thanks to a pick 6 interception by A.J. Hetu and a dazzling performance by Running Back Ryan 2
Flynn, the Most Valuable Player of the game; and 3
WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship in a team sport is a difficult achievement 4
that can only happen if every player on the team gives their all and is exclusively focused on team 5
goals rather than individual aspirations. The Smithfield sentinels had those qualities in abundance 6
in 2022, thanks to the important contributions provided by Joey Smith, Michael Villandry, James 7
Norberg, Albert Hetu, Currie Christopher, Jordan Hurst, Marc St. Martin, Aaron Archambault, 8
Christopher Gliottone, Jesse Garneau, Gavin Trost, Cody Trost, Curtis Ruotolo, John Fabiano, 9
Drew Buteau, Sawyer Powell, Chukwuemeka Ezeama, Noah Isble, Ryan Flynn, Lucas Bilotti, 10
Gennaro Ursillo, Josh Gallagher, Eric Basile, Zachary Sweet, Connor Fochler, Gavin Cafferty, 11
Bradyn Shadoian, Jake Gulino, Sean Trainor, Kenneth Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacob 12
Petrucci, Ralph Farrar, Trevor Morgan, Seth Borges, Nathan Hall, Donato Sparadeo, Ray Porter, 13
Anthony Costanzo, Nicholas Costanzo, Benjamin Cicchitelli, Joseph Sala, Lily Ford, Phillip 14
DiPaolo, Garrett Moroni, Giovanni Rea, Lex Tremblay, Alex Henson, Nathan Chaput, Nathan 15
Dorsey, Nicholas Cichon, Ryan Gendron, Jack Menard, Joseph O'Keefe, Shane Trainor, and 16
Nicholas Collins. The Sentinels also benefitted all season from the outstanding coaching and 17
leadership provided by Head Coach Glenn Castiglia, Assistant Coaches Jim Connell, Kyle Purvis, 18
Zackery Ortega, Aaron Brown-Smith and Lorenzo Garcia; now, therefore be it 19
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 20
heartily congratulates the Smithfield Sentinels Football Team on winning the Rhode Island 21
Division IV Football Championship; and be it further 22
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 23
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Smithfield Head Football Coach Glenn 24
Castiglia. 25
========
LC000295
========