The Mt. Hope High School competition cheerleading team vied the 2025 state championships Sunday, March 16, at the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.

The event was run in conjunction with the Open State Basketball Championships the same day and site.

The Huskies finished third in the Division III event out of six teams, competing against Central Falls, Ponaganset, Westerly, Portsmouth and Johnston.

Ponaganset won the division title, its routine earning a score of 78.9 points. Portsmouth was second with a 72.4 and the Huskies third with a 65.3.

Westerly was fourth with a 62.7, Johnston fifth with a 59.3 and C.F. sixth with a 53.

Of note as well, West Warwick won the four-team co-ed division and captured the combined state title with a score of 93. Mt. Hope ranked 16th out of the 26 teams total in the state standings.

La Salle took the six-team D-I event with an 85.8, Barrington claimed the four-team D-II competition with a 72.6 and Achievement First Providence won the six-team D-IV event with an 86.5.

The Mt. Hope competition cheerleader roster includes seniors Lila Maloney and Cristina Marino; juniors Caitlin Richardson and Gabrielle Daniello; sophomores Kelsi Anderson, Liliana Bowden, Aaliyah Braz, Ellady Gomez, Ava Larisa, Mia Malo; and freshmen Kyleigh St. Martin and Myah Medeiros. Samantha Golden is the head coach assisted by Joyelle Greenway and Kyle Dumkuski.

The top three teams in each division advanced to the New England Cheerleading Championships Saturday, March 22, at Worcester State University in Worcester, Mass.

At regionals, the Huskies placed 11th with a score of 122.1. Medway (Mass.) won the D-III New England championship with a score of 196. Wilmington (Conn.) was second with 182.6 and Rhode Island champ Ponaganset was third with 179.9. Portsmouth finished just ahead of Mt. Hope in 10th with a 133.3 score.

"We did not place, but we had a blast," Golden said of the Huskies' experience at regionals.

As for the rest of the divisions, Greenwich (Conn.) High took the D-I title with a 191.6 with R.I. division champ LaSalle second with 189.3.

Newtown (Conn.) took D-II with a score of 186.4 with Billerica (Mass.) second with a 185.9.

Lowell (Mass.) Catholica D-IV with a 182, edging Case nearby of Swansea with a 181. Achievement First of Providence was third with 177.1.

Two Massachusetts schools — Dover and Attleboro — placed first and second, respectively in the co-ed grouping with scores of 187.6 and 178.4, while Rhode Island winner West Warwick was third with a 176.2.

Of the 2024-25 season as a whole, Golden said, "The past two weeks have been a struggle with injuries and sickness. We had to do a lot of last minute adjusting which is extremely stressful. However, the girls were so adaptable and flexible and pulled through with a third place placement at the state level to qualify for regionals."

Golden noted the Mt. Hope competitive cheer program was not in a very good place two years ago when she took over.

"I was thankful to come back and coach for year two with two new assistant coaches Kyle and Joyelle," Golden added. "They are both so talented and knowledgeable and truly made this season so successful. We are all excited and ready for next year."