N.J. District 35 Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly presided over a ceremony honoring the players, coaches, and administrators of the Eastside Mighty Ghosts and Eastside Lady Ghosts Basketball Teams in the State Assembly Chambers on Thursday, March 30, 2023. N.J. District 35 Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumpter joined Wimberly on the Assembly floor to give awards to the head coaches of the Eastside Mighty Ghosts (boys) and Eastside Lady Ghosts (girls) basketball teams. Eastside High School’s Basketball Program had a banner year with both teams winning Passaic County Championships. It was the second consecutive county championship for the Lady Ghosts. The Mighty Ghosts went on to win the team’s first Group IV State Championship since 2015.
Assemblyman Wimberly said, “Both teams had a superior season, and we knew that the work that they put in, not only on the court but also in the classroom was worthy of this acknowledgement.”
“As inner-city high schools we don’t get a lot of credit, but to be quite honest our team were students first and foremost in the classroom,” said Boys Head Coach Marquis Webb, “but most importantly dedicated on the court and this is testament to all the work that we put in.”
To which Girls Head Coach Brandon Pilgrim echoed, “our kids are students on and off the court”.
Superintendent Eileen Shafer state, “We have great coaches as role models for our student athletes and like they said, Academics come first, and we’ve now put Paterson on the map.”
01: The Paterson Eastside High School boys and girls basketball teams pose in the waiting room next to the NJ Assembly. Both teams will be recognized for their achievements this past season.
02: The Paterson Eastside High School girls basketball team on the floor of the Assembly listen to Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly speak.
03: (L-R) Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, with Paterson Superintendent Of Schools Eileen Shafer and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumpter, addresses the Paterson Eastside High School boys basketball team on the floor of the Assembly.
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