City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, March 30, 2012) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards was joined by Rochester City School District Superintendent Bolgen Vargas and Rochester Institute of Technology Senior Vice President Mary-Beth Cooper for a key to the city presentation to two local sports teams for their history-making successes.
The East High School Girls’ Varsity Basketball and the Rochester Institute of Technology Women’s Hockey teams were both honored by the Mayor in a ceremony on March 30 in the City Hall Atrium.
“It is not every day that one of our local teams makes history, so when two of them do it on the same day, we must celebrate and commend those who admirably represent our community,” said Mayor Richards. “We are incredibly proud of these athletes for their commitment to their sports and their teamwork and tenacity during the game.”
With a 21-3 record, East High became the first girls’ team within the Rochester City School District to win the basketball Class A State Championship. To earn the title, the Orientals defeated the Warriors from Averill Park, NY, in the State Championship game on March 17.
On the same day, the RIT Lady Tigers claimed their first NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey National Championship. The hockey team (28-1-1) defeated the National defending Champion Norwich University (27-3-1) at Ritter Arena. The Lady Tigers also set a Division III, single-season record with 28 wins.
While this is RIT’s third NCAA championship, it’s the first for a women’s team. Previous champs include the 1983 men’s hockey team, which claimed the Division II crown, and the 1985 men’s hockey team, which won the Division III title.
After the big win, RIT was approved to move its nationally recognized Division III women's hockey program to Division I. The team will play a Division I and full-league schedule beginning in the 2012-13 season and will be eligible for NCAA post-season play on 2014-15.
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News Media: For more information, please contact Shiera Coleman, Communications Producer, at 428-6426.