This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/05/2016 11:00 PMThe Hand cheerleading squad is similar to many teams in high school sports in that it wants to steadily improve throughout the year and then peak in the postseason to take home a title. Well, for the second-consecutive year, it was mission accomplished for the Tigers at the SCC Championship.
Hand competed in the Coed Division at the SCC Championship on Feb. 6 at North Haven. In a three-team contest against Branford and Cross, the Tigers came out on top with a score of 79 points to claim their second-straight conference crown for the co-ed competition. As part of her praise of the Tigers after their big victory, Head Coach Licia Ciotti explained that this day truly unlocked the brightest potential of the team she knew was there all year long.
“This year’s team has over the last three weeks has gone from decent to great,” said Ciotti. “All I ask is that they get a little better each week. Today, they were awesome.”
The athletes on Hand’s roster this season are co-captains Alyssa Friend and Max Honorof, plus fellow senior Sierra Tucker; along with juniors Heather Whelahan, Caroline McKeon, Amanda Jepson, Katherine Hotchkiss, Cate Pagano, and Amy Williams; sophomores Dyonne Johnson and Sydney Dempsey; plus freshmen Abigail Sherer, Brooke Esposito, Kyle Jasko, Grace Lavin, Grace McGuirk, Catie Patrick, Morgan Blake, Chloe Scott, Heidi Whelahan, and Emily Splain.
The Tigers’ championship routine featured the addition of two standing tucks to their usual arsenal to make a total of four. A standing tuck is a jump in which the cheerleader uses stomach muscles to pull the legs up with thighs as close to the chest as possible and knees facing upward as if in a tucked position. Hand also added a pair of running round-off back handspring tucks for three total.
“All of the tucks were hit perfectly today. They sold this routine with energy and enthusiasm today,” Ciotti said. “Everything just flowed beautifully. Their stunting was very good. The difficulty is there; just needs a little more cleaning.”
One element that carried Hand through its performance to the SCC summit was a steady swagger that blossomed on one of the state’s biggest stages.
“I have to say the confidence of this team has just skyrocketed. They finally believe they can do it,” said Ciotti. “Teamwork, pumping each other up, and dedication to keep progressing and never settle for less is what won this team another SCC title. Today, they earned it.”
Ciotti concluded by stating that her club has some fine-tuning to do before the State Championship on Friday, March 4, but based on what they achieved at the conference meet, the Tigers know they can succeed in the spotlight.
“I could not have been more proud of what we did here,” said Ciotti. “We have work to do before states [with an] extreme cleanup.”
From the Sidelines
Tigers’ cheerleading coach Licia Ciotti is assisted by Michelle Kaufmann this season.
The Tigers took part in two previous in-state competitions this winter, placing second in both.
Hand senior captain Max Honorof was named to the All-SCC Team at the SCC Championship.