To The Editor:
On behalf of the Verona High School Boys Varsity Basketball team we would like to thank the community for their incredible support during our journey to the Tournament of Champions. To be able to bring a state championship home to Verona was an honor that we will never forget, and it would not have been possible without the support of so many.
Thank you to our parents and families for believing in our dream as much as we did. Thank you to our recreation, suburban, and AAU basketball coaches who prepared us to play ball in high school. Thank you to the many photographers and reporters who captured the memories of our experience with their images and words. Thank you to the administration of VHS and the Board of Education for continuing to support athletic programs and recognizing the value they provide. Thank you to the VHS teams of 1981 and 1957 for setting the bar so high and showing us that dreams do come true. Thank you to the fire, rescue and police of Verona for the excitement you provided in welcoming our championship team back to Verona. Thank you to the Verona Inn for hosting our celebration dinner and the Mayor and Town Council for your recognition. Thank you to Robert Merkler who, in his first year as athletic director in Verona, has done a first-rate job. Thank you to Greg Davidson, Mark Rossi and Justin Bruso for their encouragement and coaching skills and to Jason Calo for keeping us healthy. Thank you to Coach Eric McElroy for having the vision to craft a championship team and the trust in us to execute your vision.
Most of all, we thank Verona students, from high schoolers to preschoolers, and members of the community who cheered us on with such enthusiasm. We couldn’t have become champions without the support of Verona and we wouldn’t have wanted to be champions anywhere else.
Sincerely,
Jack Farrell, Travis Jocelyn, and Zack Zaccone
Co-Captains
Verona High School Boys Varsity Basketball
2017 NJ Group 1 State Champion
