This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/09/2020 12:00 AMThings got out to a bit of a rocky start for the Hand cheerleading team at the Class L State Championship. It was just minutes until the Tigers were scheduled to perform their routine, when Head Coach Licia Ciotti noticed that nerves were starting to get the best of her squad.
“That had to have been one of the worst warmups we’ve had all season. We didn’t even get a chance to finish before we were called to perform,” said Ciotti. “I just told the girls, ‘Now is your moment. You guys control your fate, and I have all the confidence in you. Go out there and rock it.’”
That’s exactly what the Tigers did. Hand exceeded all expectations by winning its first state title in team history with a first-place finish at Class L State Championship at Floyd Little Athletic Center on March 7. The Tigers posted a score of 177.70 points to defeat the 19 other teams in the field. North Haven finished a close second with 176.40 points, while Killingly took third with a 172.90.
The athletes on the Hand cheerleading team are senior captains Gina Ciotti and Izzy Carusone; along with juniors Emily VanKirk, Dara McShane, Hailey Ryan, and Julie Lawton; sophomores Julia Collins and Ali Ciotti; and freshman Reegan O’Dea. Coach Ciotti is assisted by Carla Carusone and Michelle O’Dea.
“This was the most special win. Not only because this was the first ever state title for Hand, but also the only one that I have both of my daughters on the team for,” Ciotti said. “The bottom line is that this team overachieved because of their own determination. We didn’t even win a tournament all season up to this point. So, to say I’m proud of these girls would be an understatement.”
The scoring at the State Championship was officiated by a double panel, as opposed to the usual single panel that scores other meets. All teams competing could earn up to 200 points based on several different categories that included jumps, dance, choreography, partner stunts, motions, standing tumbling, running tumbling, expression, voice, pyramids, formations, and transitions.
Two judges scored each component at the meet. One set of judges scored jumps, dance and choreography; one pairing scored partner stunts and motions; two judges scored standing tumbling, running tumbling, expressions, and voice; and another pair scored pyramids, formations and transitions.
“We hit as close to a perfect routine as we’ve had all season,” said Coach Ciotti. “We knew that it would be a real test between us, North Haven and Killingly. We honestly didn’t know if we were going to win until our names were called.”
Senior captains Gina Ciotti and Izzy Carusone were ecstatic that Hand brought the state title back to Madison. Ciotti expressed her excitement after the team’s historic victory.
“It was a great feeling,” Ciotti said. “We did the absolute best we could have done, and it’s just great to know that hard work pays off.”
Carusone said the Tigers put forth their best performance of the year when the stakes were at their greatest.
“We went into this competition never hitting our routine on the competition floor, but we knew we could do it and never gave up after each competition,” said Carusone. “For our first time hitting the routine to be on the competition floor at states was the best feeling. Even if we didn’t win, we did our best.”
Hand weht from a fourth-place finish at the SCC Championship to the top of the pack at states this season. Now, Coach Ciotti wants the Tigers to reach new heights when they compete at the Team of the Year Championship on Saturday, March 14, followed by the New England Regional Championship on Saturday, March 21.
“Now that we have this confidence under our belt, I believe we can achieve anything,” Ciotti said. “We showed what we are capable of at states, and I think the sky is the limit for us. We are going to be competing against a lot of talented teams, but we have what it takes.”