Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Corning Rugby Club

Assembly Resolution No. 1571

BY: M. of A. Palmesano

        COMMEMORATING  the  10th  Anniversary  of  Corning
        Rugby Club

  WHEREAS,  Athletic  competition  enhances  the  moral  and  physical
development of the residents of this State, instilling in them the value
of  teamwork,  encouraging  a  standard  of  healthy living, imparting a
desire for success, and developing a sense of fair play and competition;
and

  WHEREAS, Corning  Rugby  Club  was  founded  in  February  2016,  by
Corning-Painted Post High School student Jack Kahabka, Head Coach Robert
McGee, and a host of volunteer coaches and supporters as the first youth
rugby program in the Southern Tier of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Corning Rugby Club operates as a nonprofit organization and
is  supported  entirely  through  member  dues, fundraising efforts, and
community support; and

  WHEREAS, Beginning as a single boys high school  team  competing  in
RugbyNY  Division II, Corning Rugby Club was built around the mission of
providing local student-athletes with opportunities  to  participate  in
the  sport  while emphasizing teamwork, leadership, discipline, respect,
accountability, and service to the community, and  has  since  grown  to
include a girls high school team; and

  WHEREAS,  Through  hard  work,  unwavering  commitment,  and  strong
spirit,  the  inaugural  boys  team  quickly  established  itself  as  a
competitive  force  in  New  York  State  rugby,  earning a berth in the
RugbyNY Division II State Playoffs - an impressive accomplishment for  a
first-year club; and

  WHEREAS,  Corning Rugby Club has continued to be a competitive force
over its 10 seasons, with its high school boys team qualifying  for  the
RugbyNY state playoffs in every season-the only team in Upstate New York
to accomplish that feat during the time period; and

  WHEREAS,  With  the  addition of a girls team in 2017, Corning Rugby
Club created the first opportunities in the region  for  female  student
athletes  to  compete  in  the  sport;  the program has grown rapidly in
popularity, becoming one of the premier programs in New York  State  and
the East Coast; and

  WHEREAS,  Corning  Rugby  has  engaged  nearly  300 student athletes
across its boys, girls, and middle  school  programs  during  its  first
decade,  providing meaningful athletic opportunities, skill development,
and leadership experiences to youth throughout the Southern Tier; and

  WHEREAS, The Corning Rugby Club's girls program captured the RugbyNY
High School Girls State Championship in 2023  and  2025,  and  the  boys
program  earned  third-place finishes at the RugbyNY State Championships
in 2017, 2019, 2022; this tradition of success is  a  testament  to  the
club's commitment to high-level athletic performance; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Corning  Rugby  Girls program was invited to join the
prestigious Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL), providing student  athletes
with  opportunities  to  compete  against  many  of  the top girls rugby
programs on the East Coast; and

  WHEREAS,  Corning  Rugby alumni have earned selection to prestigious
national development programs, including representation  of  the  United
States   as   members   of  the  USA  U-20  Women's  National  Team  and
participation in the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, part  of  the  official
USA Rugby national development pathway; and

  WHEREAS,  The  athletes  involved  with  Corning Rugby Club have had
invaluable  opportunities  to  train  and  compete   at   national   and
international  levels,  and  participate  in  the  tradition of touring,
organizing and competing  in  out-of-state  matches  across  the  United
States; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to high school rugby, the Corning Rugby Club
has continued  expanding  opportunities  for  younger  athletes  through
middle  school  and  youth  development  programming;  in 2026, the club
launched a free youth non-contact rugby program for boys and girls  ages
7-15  in an effort to continue growing participation and introducing the
sport to the next generation of athletes; and

  WHEREAS, Corning Rugby has brought  together  student-athletes  from
more  than  10  school  districts  throughout  the Southern Tier region,
creating a unique community-based athletic program that  unites  players
from  diverse  backgrounds  through teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership,
and shared commitment to the values of  rugby,  and  deserves  the  just
recognition  and  applause  of  the  citizens  of this great State; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  10th  Anniversary  of  Corning  Rugby  Club; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to Jack Kahabka and Robert McGee, founders of Corning Rugby
Club.