No matter the size of its roster, or any injuries to athletes it had to overcome, the Hand cheerleading team was more than determined to defend its SCC title from last season, and the Tigers proved their desires true with dedication and diligence.

One year after taking the conference crown in the All-Girl Division, Hand returned to the SCC Championship competition on Feb. 4 at North Haven High School. With a team tally of 83.95 points, the Tigers squeaked past a close runner-up in host North Haven, which had 79.95 points, to give Head Coach Michelle O’Dea’s squad its second-straight SCC title for the All-Girl Division.

“Winning this routine for the second year in a row was an immense accomplishment,” said O’Dea, who is in her first season as head coach, succeeding Hand mainstay Licia Ciotti. “We have such a small team and have been struggling with chronic injuries with some of our athletes. In cheerleading, it is so tough because there aren’t alternates really for positions, so the cheerleaders really are overworking their bodies and pushing themselves to limits that are pretty incredible to get these routines done.”

Rounding out the team scoring for the competition from third to 11th place were West Haven (79.85), Cheshire (74.95), Foran (73.65), Branford (72.30), Lyman Hall (70.60) Lauralton Hall (65.00), East Haven (64.15), Sacred Heart Academy (62.20), Mercy (58.40), and Sheehan (50.65).

O’Dea noted that while there was personal pressure for herself, there additionally was for her girls in aiming to defend their throne. Yet all parties pulled through to proudly stand atop the pedestal.

“Although I have worked with Licia and the team for a number of years, it still felt like very big shoes to fill, having seen Licia resign after all these years,” said Coach O’Dea. “The pressure was on, especially since we were the reigning SCC champions. The same girls from last year’s team are on this year’s team. We only had one senior that graduated last year.”

The Tigers boast a snug roster of only seven girls, which forced O’Dea and Hand to get creative when it came to the performance that eventually produced another title.

“This routine is jam-packed with elite stunts, has an exceptional jumping sequence with tumbling passes, and is maxed out for difficulty in the pyramid,” said O’Dea. “The choreography of the routine was so impressive that our small team of seven never looked that way on that mat. We utilized creative footwork and formations to make it look like we had a huge squad. [It was] showcasing and putting girls in various formations to highlight individual talents they bring to the team.”

The seven-person roster for the Tigers is composed of seniors of co-captain Audrey Anselmo, Cali Anselmo, co-captain Reegan O’Dea; plus sophomores Abby Kustra, Allison Mulhern, Mia Scott, and Katelyn Zagami. Michelle O’Dea is assisted by Coach Sydney Sutcliffe. Kustra and Reegan O’Dea were also named to the All-SCC Team.

The postseason competition season may not heat up until the middle of winter, though the Tigers start the road to championships right at the onset of the school year.

Even more impressive and embedded in their accomplishments, the young women have to balance their own schedules along with the slate of their fellow student-athletes at Hand.

“These athletes start putting in the work early in the fall to learn the basic parts of the competition routine with the fall cheer team,” Coach O’Dea stated. “Then after fall season is over, we start to dissect the routine and put in more hours solely with winter cheer competition cheerleaders. We are in the gym every day, practicing tumbling, stunting, and choreography. All this while also cheering for the boys’ basketball team. It is unbelievable what these girls are doing because many of them are also in other activities and take high-level courses at Hand. We work hard around a very tight gym schedule with all the other sports.”

Next up for postseason action are the state championships, which will take place on Saturday, March 4, at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. Hand is currently fighting through a crucial injury, as Reegan O’Dea suffered a broken hand that may require surgery. Still, the Tigers’ spirit will be strong to hover over any hurdles.

“This team is small but mighty,” said O’Dea. “Reegan is the primary back spot and one of the elite tumblers and jumpers that we have on the team right now. We will need to do a significant amount of work to move forward, if it is even safe to do so, with the team for states. Reegan was injured during warm-ups when she went to do a tumbling pass.

“She continued to warm up for the routine. After warm-ups, the team went to the holding area to wait to perform. During that time, her hand began to swell at a rapid pace. She refused to come out. She went on and competed, performing in the entire routine. ER doctors were shocked that she was even able to do any part of the routine. The girls are extremely focused and highly competitive. They always have those big titles in the back of their minds, fueling them to go above and beyond.”