By ROSS SNEYD

Associated Press Writer

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Vermont’s Statehouse was wrapped, at least figuratively, in the green and gold of the conquering University of Vermont men’s basketball team Tuesday.

Led by hometown favorite Taylor Coppenrath, a native of the Northeast Kingdom town of West Barnet, the six members of the dream team were the most popular attraction among the politicians in the capitol.

The tall, gangly athletes sat rather uncomfortably and conspicuously in the front of the House chamber as a resolution in their honor was read and adopted by the lawmakers.

“This group of young men has given Vermont so many thrills from this basketball season,” said Rep. Martha Heath, D-Westford, who is a member of the university’s board of trustees. “These players are, in the truest sense, student athletes.”

The presentation was even more poignant in the Senate because Coppenrath’s father, George, was recently appointed to fill a vacant seat from Caledonia County and he introduced his son and his teammates.

“Not only are they great basketball players, off the court, in school buildings around the state and mostly in Chittenden County they give back tremendously,” the elder Coppenrath said.

The students, most of them well over 6 feet tall, were unmistakable as they made their away around the hallways of the Statehouse. They were the guests of honor at a 45-minute reception hosted by Gov. James Douglas in his ceremonial office, where they provided some inspiration for the high school students who will be following them.

Besides recognizing the Catamounts’ accomplishments, the House also honored the Mount Mansfield Union High School boys’ basketball team and its boys’ and girls’ alpine ski teams. Those students attended the governor’s reception and, along with lawmakers and a host of others, got the UVM team members’ autographs on T-shirts.

Douglas even got into the action. Spokesman Jason Gibbs said a half dozen or so people wanted the governor’s autograph along with the team members.