Recognizing, Honoring, and Celebrating, Tony Figliola and the Holy Ghost Prep Forensics Program on their incredible and impressive winning history in High School level Debate and Speech Competitions.

WHEREAS, The Forensics Team has enjoyed and incredible winning record in debate and speech competitions at the city, state, and national level; and

WHEREAS, The Forensics Program at Holy Ghost Prep has won 25 consecutive Philadelphia City Speech Championships, 11 Pennsylvania State Championships in the last 14 years, over 80 individual Pennsylvania State Championships, and has produced 17 individual national champions; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, the Holy Ghost Prep Team won the City Championship, the State Title, were ranked in the top five at the National Catholic Forensics League Tournament and individuals on the team won three state titles and one national title; and

WHEREAS

, In 2007, Junior Anthony Francomacaro won individual National Titles at both the National Catholic Forensics League Tournament and the National Forensics League National Tournament, a rare feat national and a first for a student from Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Tony Figliola is an English teacher and head coach of the Forensics at Holy Ghost Prep; and

WHEREAS, His efforts have been aided by fellow coaches John Buettler, Jerry Colapinto, and Ryan Abramson; and

WHEREAS, The efforts of the coaches and the success of the team has helped draw continued support and involvement from many of the Holy Ghost Prep alumni; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Tony Figliola and Assistant Coach John Buettler (Class of '64) are members of the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, In June of 2007, Head Coach Tony Figliola was inducted into the National Forensics League Hall of Fame at the National Tournament in Wichita, Kansas; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes, honors, and celebrates, Tony Figliola and the Holy Ghost Prep Forensics Program on their incredible and impressive winning history in High School level debate and speech competitions

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Tony Figliola as evidence of the sincere appreciation of this legislative body.

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