HEMPSTEAD, L.I. – It’s official.
In the cheerleading world, especially in the last few years, Staten Island is the epicenter of CHSAA competition. Whether squads dominated its season or saved their best for last, its four teams can’t be counted out – especially when it comes down to crunch time.
And, once again, that was the case at Hofstra University on Saturday.
Notre Dame Academy, Moore Catholic and St. Joseph by-the-Sea earned top honors at the CHSAA State Championships, with the Gators earning a three-peat in both DII traditional and gameday. The Mavericks and Vikings, meanwhile, hit clean routines en route to their respective victories in DIII and DI.
St. Joseph Hill, meanwhile, turned in its strongest performance of the season to finish in second place in Division II.
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NDA, Moore, Sea earn title victories at CHSAA states
NDA narrowly beats Hill to earn third-straight state titles in DII
At the beginning of the season, it was clear that Island rivals NDA and Hill would be battling it out as both sought its third-straight Traditional state title. And, as one would expect, it came down to the wire on who would be victorious.
Hill left it all on the mat as it earned a hit-zero routine, earning a score of 82.6. But, while NDA had 1.5 points in deductions due to a fallen stunt, its cheer and overall effect scores carried the Gators to a 83.1 score and Division II title win.
“The goal is always to have a good performance and for them to fight, no matter what happens,” said NDA coach Drea Vindigni. “Sometimes things don’t go our way and they have a bobble here and there, but they fought through and finished it,”
NDA earned a three-peat for both traditional and gameday while Moore and Sea hit clean routines en route to their victories. St. Joseph Hill also impressed with a clean hit, earning second place. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
“Hill is a great team and competitor, so we were very excited and [had] tears of joy [when we were called for first],” added coach Kim Fitzgerald.
The coaching staff also had another challenge in replacing tumbler, bracer and sign girl Keira Trears after the sophomore suffered an injury. Finding out less than 48 hours before competition, the trio lauded the efforts of juniors Sofia Scaduto (traditional) and Gabriella Sciandra (gameday) for jumping in the routines.
“Keira plays a big factor in both our routines and we were heartbroken for her, but we knew as coaches we had to put in the next group of girls that were going to take over for her [while making sure] everyone stayed calm, focused and ‘eyes on the prize,’” added Vindigni. “Most wouldn’t be able to handle that, but they killed it and were great.”
NDA earned a three-peat for both traditional and gameday while Moore and Sea hit clean routines en route to their victories. St. Joseph Hill also impressed with a clean hit, earning second place. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
As for Game Day, the Grymes Hill school ran away with the victory with a score of 86.2. With second-place St. John the Baptist earning a 77.7, it was NDA’s cheer score and energy on the mat that proved to be the difference.
“Energy is everything – coming into gameday, you have to jump up and down for three minutes while getting the crowd going,” said Danielle Vindigni. “You just have to keep going and keep it up so your energy pours onto the girl next to you.
“You always want to give your best so the girl next to you can give their best.”
Now, heading into Nationals with a world of momentum and a goal of making Finals appearances in both divisions, the Gators believe their fight while performing shows what they’re capable of doing in Disney.
“Our emotions were all over the place today, and they were feeling the pressure of being at states and wanting to get that three-peat,” concluded Danielle Vindigni. “But, after fighting through the routine and not being perfect, I think they know that they can really do anything if they keep their minds in it.”
Members of NDA’s cheer program include seniors Amanda DeBiase, Rae Driscoll, Abbey Ferrera, Grace Loughlin, Sophia Luna and Sienna Selvitella; juniors Addison Abrahamsen, Gabriella Barretta, Mara Ellerson, Jillian Granada, Sofia Scaduto and Gabriella Sciandra; sophomores Danielle Mitrovich, Camryn Sagaria, Gianna Sciarabba, Keira Trears, Cate Tutrone and Cassie Tycenski; and freshmen Siena Delessio, Ava DeSantis, Giulianna Desiderato, Carley Ferrera, Alanna Langello, Emma Tartaglione and Camilla Winters.
Moore Catholic earned its first DIII state championship victory under head coaches Giana Tiernan and Julia Scarola. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
Hard work pays off as Moore earns first state title in DIII
Throughout the season, Moore has emphasized the importance of putting in the work and wanting to do its best.
And, in the end, that work paid off as the Mavericks earned its first state title in Division III under head coaches Giana Tiernan and Julia Scarola.
“They just wanted it, especially after performing [the night before] at the SI Alliance showcase,” said Tiernan. “We’ve had a lot of them since freshman year, and they’ve just grown from the leadership that was left last season until now. They’ve worked so hard through every obstacle and thing that’s knocked them down, staying resilient and putting in all the hours, and they deserve it.”
NDA earned a three-peat for both traditional and gameday while Moore and Sea hit clean routines en route to their victories. St. Joseph Hill also impressed with a clean hit, earning second place. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
Hitting its cleanest performance of the season, Moore easily took first with a score of 79.2. Fontbonne Hall took a distant second place, scoring a 67.4.
According to Scarola, once the Graniteville school hit its second stunt sequence, the team was able to finish off strong. And now, also heading to Disney in the next week, the Mavs have a head full of steam as they look to make some noise at Nationals.
“Once they got through that, they really pushed through [the rest of the routine],” said Scarola. “This definitely gave them a confidence boost that was well-deserved, as they needed to see that they could actually do it and they could really move on.
“They strive to be their very best, and they showed and proved that to everyone today.”
With Moore also assisted by Antoinette Scarola, its roster includes seniors Gianna Leone, Bianca Palumbo and Madison Sayers; juniors Shay Duran, Mia Garcia, Keira Knobloch and Olivia Winters; sophomores Alix Irving, Sarina Lombardi, Carly Oliva and Gwen Samarasekera; and freshmen Julia Antinoro, Brooklyn Broden, Brianna Hidalgo, Breea Hylton, Valeria Izaguirre, Alexa Liguori, Alexa Messina, Adrianna Mela, Ava Sartini and Ava Van Roten.
St. Joseph by-the-Sea earned its first Division I state championship under head coach Kim Kukal. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
Sea saves its best for last as it upsets St. Anthony’s in DI
After losing two months of practice due to a late coaching change, head coach Kim Kukal consistently underscored that St. Joseph by-the-Sea would rise to the occasion once they were able to make up for lost time.
Those sentiments rang true on Saturday as the Vikings pulled off the upset of the season, hitting a clean performance to overtake St. Anthony’s in Division I. With both teams earning a raw score of 83.3, the Huguenot school’s cleanliness was the deciding factor as the Friars took a one-point deduction for a fallen stunt.
“It’s amazing and just slightly a miracle – through all the sweat and tears they’ve earned it, and I’m just so happy and thankful for these girls,” said Kukal. “It was really hard to get the train going and to get them to have fun with cheer again. But, being a part of the CHSAA and having everyone supporting them, it was electric [on the mat] today.”
NDA earned a three-peat for both traditional and gameday while Moore and Sea hit clean routines en route to their victories. St. Joseph Hill also impressed with a clean hit, earning second place. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
Competing at the Nassau Regional just over a month ago, Sea turned in a less than stellar performance on the mat. However, according to Kukal, that served as a turning point.
“They just needed time. They really didn’t know what they could do and, after they didn’t do so well, they knew they were better than that and could hit the stunts and routine,” added Kukal. “Their confidence came back and they found their love for cheer again, and they wanted to show everyone who they were and what they represented on the mat with a hit, win or lose.”
Earning their first hit and victory in competition a week ago, the squad rode that momentum en route to their first state title under Kukal.
“In the beginning, they were very shaky and were more surprised if something hit rather than expecting it to hit. But, when everything hit last competition, they knew they could do it,” concluded Kukal. “St. Anthony’s and Kellenberg are amazing teams who gave us a run for our money, but it was really their confidence that they could hit their routine while having fun with it [that pushed us over the top today].”
Assisted by Shannon Conaty, Katie DeNisco, Mya Pennisi, Venora Pennisi and Camello Vanloo, the Vikings’ roster includes seniors Victoria Commisso, Gia Gargano, Nicole Mahoney, Victoria Misseri and Melina Pennisi; juniors Valentina Bianchi, Emma Burke, Mia Ellis, Amy Guglielmo, Mackenzie Keane, Alessandra Leone, Olivia Patton and Alexis Testaverde; sophomores Ava DeNivo, Gia Gugliucci, Ava Jurgens, Jayda Jurgens, Olivia Leone, Liliana Pappalardo, Gianna Pillarella and Samantha Ryan; and freshmen Paige McKeon and Ava Testaverde.