Ward Melville finishes third in Class A at state Game Day cheerleading championships
Ward Melville places third at the New York State Class A Game Day cheerleading championships on Sunday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Credit: Cindy Schultz
For the Ward Melville cheerleaders, it wasn’t just about trophies or titles. It was about doing it together. With half the team made up of seniors, that sense of family carried them to a third-place finish in Class A at the Game Day Cheerleading Championships on Sunday at Hudson Valley Community College.
“We all leave the mat with no regrets,” senior captain Jessica Scardino said.
“We are very proud of the two performances we put out. For us, it’s not even about where we place; we really emphasize the journey, and working together to hit the best routine we possibly can. To us, that’s winning.”
“Place doesn’t define us as a team,” senior captain Ian Licavoli said. “In the end, we still have each other, and every day I’m so grateful to be a part of this team and this family.”
The Patriots finished with a final score of 85.90, earning a high mark of 4.8 in the execution of the stunting and tumbling category.
“I think it was their best routine ever,” Ward Melville coach Georgia Curtis said. “They make me so proud to coach them, just standing back and watching them perform, I get goose bumps because they’re such a special group.”
With 12 seniors set to graduate, the Patriots hope the bond they’ve built and the standard they’ve set continues.
“What sets us apart from most teams is the fact that you can see our bond on the mat,” Licavoli said. “Especially with half of us being seniors, we’ve grown up on this team together and created this legacy that hopefully is carried on for many years to come.”
Shoreham-Wading River climbed the leaderboard this year, finishing second in Class C with a score of 85.90 after placing fourth last season.
“Every team dreams of making it to the state championship,” sophomore Giuliana Sefton said. “So to hear our name called out for second place, it was super exciting.”
Sefton said the result motivates the team even more for next year.
“This really raises the bar for us,” she said. “We were really motivated to do even better than we did last year, and it makes us want to get first place next year.”
In Hauppauge’s first season competing in Game Day, they finished sixth in Class B in the semifinal round with an 83.80. “Going up there, we really didn’t have any expectations,” coach Laura Alonzo said. “Most of them have never competed on a stage like this, so it was really just an amazing experience for them.”
Division finished fifth in Class B (84.70), Malverne finished eighth in Class C (70), Oceanside was seventh in Class A (83.50), and East Meadow fourth in Class A (87.30).
