For three years running, the Mt. Hope varsity gymnastics team had dominated the Division II field at the state championships, claiming the top prize each time. Now in their first year competing in Division I, the Huskies proved they are the best of the best, as they won the top team title during the state meet this past Saturday, Feb. 23, at Rhode Island College.

“We’ve been working all season towards this meet, right here, so for it to finally be here and to win is an incredible feat,” said head coach Nicole Daniello.

After ending the regular season undefeated, the Huskies were striving to challenge themselves Saturday and score even higher than they had all year. They pulled it off. Freshman Reese Pavao earned her best-ever score on floor with a 9.0, while senior Meghan Oliver wowed the crowd with a stuck landing on vault that won her a 9.55. Strong, consistent performances from freshman Nora Prendergast and seniors Jayme Foreman and Kaitlin Quinn helped carry the Huskies to a team-best 140.25 — 2.625 points ahead of last year’s Division I champions, LaSalle Academy.

“It proved that if we come together, we can do anything, really,” Oliver said.

Each of those five gymnasts finished in the top 10 in the all-around competition — Pavao in ninth with a 33.5, Prendergast in eighth with a 33.6, Quinn in seventh with a 34.1, Foreman in fifth with a 34.725 and Oliver in third with a 36.9.

Rhode Island's top team will travel to Hudson, Mass., on March 9 to compete in the New England Championships, and in May, Oliver, Foreman and Quinn will head to Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., for the Senior Showcase Invitational. While just the mention of those three seniors is enough to bring her to tears, Coach Daniello said she is proud of the amount of effort and determination the girls exhibited all season long.

“They encourage each other and support each other, and that’s all that I ask them to do.”