WPCNR COURTSIDE. May 15, 2008: The tears of happiness were falling Thursday afternoon, as White Plains Tigers Angelei Aguirre who by force of will, her heart and  leadership and desire lead the Tigers to their fourth consecutive Section I Championship this year signed a Letter of Intent to attend the University of California at Berkeley on a four year full athletic scholarship.

From left, Mark Aguire, Mrs. Aguirre, Angelei, Coach Sue Adams and Athletic Director, Nick Panero at the big signing Thursday afternoon. On the dais, are the 4 Section 1 Basketball ChampionTrophies won by the teams Ms. Aguirre has played on for White Plains

Ms. Aguirre is the fifth member of the WPHS Tigers Girls Basketball Champions the last four years to receive a Division I academic scholarship. The other three, Kim Adams, Elise Bronzo, Danica Covington and Liz Flooks who lead the champions of 2007, 2006 and 2005 were in the audience clapping, crying, remembering.

Ms. Aguirre’s father, Mark Aguirre, member of the 1989-1990 National Basketball Association Champion Detroit Pistons teams, and standout at DePaul University who knows about such things said when he moved his family to New York from California he did not know what to expect, and said that the White Plains High School program had been wonderful for his daughter academically and in developing her basketball skills.

Ms. Aguirre’s teammates described her as “quiet thunder,” “a blessing,” “never a better teammate,”so focused, so humble,”

Sue Adams, her coach said she was the kind of player who makes every player better, and saluted her for coming into her full potential this year when the team needed her to step up. The coach said her unselfishness as a player, always wanting to pass the ball, kept her from realizing her full potential, but this year, Adams said she realized it.

Dorothea Halloway, Ms. Aguirre’s guidance counselor noted that Ms. Aguirre is an Honors student in five key disciplines.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors encouraged other students to look to Ms. Aguirre’s example of achievement for inspiration and as one of the values of the school’s balance between academics and  athletics.

Ms. Aguirre will be joining a team, University of California at Berkeley that is ranked sixth in the nation by ESPN, and seventh by Sports Illustrated.