Given its success this season and its overall championship pedigree for the program across its timeline, it may be hard to believe that the Hand gymnastics team etched a new piece of history in the Tigers’ pantheon.

Following an undefeated 17-0 dual-meet season, taking their 23rd SCC conference title and 20th overall state championship (second straight) this winter, the Tigers entered the State Open Championship on March 4 as the top seed. It was an event Hand had never taken tops in during its history, only finishing runner-up twice in 2014 and 2022, after the CIAC started having full teams first compete in the State Open back in 2009.

Yet this time, the Tigers were true to the task and claimed their first-ever State Open crown with a score of 141.75 points. Hand won the prize over Ellington-Tolland, who scored 138.6 points, Fairfield Warde (scoring 137.9 as a group), and Woodstock Academy (135.325).

“Winning the State Open was such a surreal moment. This team is incredibly cohesive, hard working, and motivated,” said sophomore Brooke Anderson. “Yet I can never get through a practice without cracking up laughing. The balance of work and play the team has is astounding. I am so honored to be part of the team that has made history. The growth this team has achieved this season is incredible, and this victory was the cherry on top to an amazing season.”

As a team, the Tigers finished first on bars, beam, and the floor exercises, while finishing runner-up to Fairfield Warde on the vault. Hand tallied a 34.15 on bars, then amassed a score of 36.075 on the beam, and finally with floor, they scored a 36.

“This was such an exciting win. In our program’s history, we’ve had so many incredible state championship teams come through, but this is the first State Open Championship,” said Head Coach Kelly Smith. “There were four really strong teams today, and we knew we had depth and consistency on our side and, in the end, our ability to hit under pressure really set us apart. We hit 6-for-6 routines on the beam, which can be really tricky under pressure. We had several stuck landings on vault and bars; they really rose to the challenge. We just wanted to have a good day, which we did, and see where that left us. It left us on top with room to spare.”

On vault, Anderson tied for fifth with a score of 9.225, and then sophomore Morgan Flickinger tied for sixth place on a 9.2. Senior co-captain Morgan McMahon tallied a 8.575, and then junior Hadley Reiss added a score of 8.525.

“I couldn’t be more proud of how much this team has accomplished,” said McMahon. “It’s so special to us as a group that we were able to give this program its first State Open title. It feels so rewarding. I know we couldn’t have done it without our incredible coaches, who give us endless support and encouragement.”

On bars, Flickinger finished in a tie for the second slot (9.25). Also, freshman Ella Speerli had a 8.45, sophomore Olivia Consiglio a 8.35, and finally Reiss an 8.1.

“We didn’t make any major adjustments after last week,” said Coach Smith. “We actually took it pretty light in the gym all week. These girls have worked so hard since early December that the physical work is really done. We spent some time focusing on areas that needed some cleanup and where they lacked confidence, and we worked the mental game.”

For the beam, Anderson earned a score of 9.075 and Flickinger a 9.225. Then, Reiss grabbed an 8.9, plus junior Abigail Simpson notched an 8.875.

“Tonight really showed how our team can handle the pressure,” said Anderson. “This is the biggest meet our team has competed in all season, yet we still hit 6-for-6 on the most mental event in the beam. Coach Smith always talks about mindset and how it is so imperative to focus on one skill at a time. We really showed strength in that area today, as we hit a 36 on beam for the second meet in a row.”

Next, moving to the floor, Flickinger was fourth with a 9.3, and then Anderson was sixth with a 9.2. Reiss added an 8.95, while Speerli totaled an 8.55.

“To win a competition that Hand has never won before was such an exciting and unreal experience,” said junior co-captain Dylan Friedman. “Morgan [McMahon] and I are so honored to lead this team to such a big victory, and we are immensely proud of the girls who competed and showed Connecticut what we have to offer. This season has been so memorable and special, and we’ve poured our hearts into this sport.”

Flickinger then finished fourth in the all-around with a number of 36.975 for her efforts on the day, which saw the Tigers put on a masterclass performance on the state’s biggest stage.

“Our three AA [all-around] qualifiers really led the way as they’ve done for much of the season. Morgan Flickinger had a really strong performance across the board, highlighted with a more difficult vault, and competed successfully,” said Smith. “Brooke hit three of her four events at 9+ for the team and bounced back after a difficult bar routine to hit beam and floor, showing a lot of perseverance. Hadley Reiss hit 4-for-4 repeating her performance from last week, which was her best of the season and, so again today, she really nailed her routines. Ella Speerli and Morgan McMahon competed in three events, each with rock solid performances. They were our first two up to set the tone for our beam success. Freshmen Grace Burton and Kelly Kelly also had lead off roles on bars and vault, setting the tone. Olivia Consiglio turned in strong performances on bars and started the floor party, and has made tremendous growth this year in her ability to hit under pressure.”

All of the athletes that competed for the Tigers on the day made the All-State team by virtue of qualifying for the State Open. But now the Tigers venture to Pinkerton, New Hampshire for the New England Championships on Saturday, March 11. Regardless of where the Tigers land in the field when the dust settles, they will have gotten there knowing they will have done it as a dedicated group in their final competition of a championship-cladden campaign.

“We don’t really know what to expect going into New Englands,” said Coach Smith. “We know we are No. 1 in Connecticut, and we are excited to represent our state against the rest of the field. Massachusetts historically has some strong teams, and the host team, Pinkerton, is usually pretty strong, so we’re assuming all teams will be strong. Our mindset won’t change much; we can’t control what any other teams are doing. So, we will prepare with the goal to have a good day, and then we will see where that lands us. We also broke our school record [team score] at last year’s regionals, so I think we have that on our radar as well. This is a special group and there is nothing after New Englands, so we’ll try to savor the moment of this team’s final competition.”