Tigers win state championship
Tolman dominates Medium Schools Division to repeat
PAWTUCKET – It appears Tolman High’s quality of routine at the Interscholastic Competitive Cheer Championships has become … well, quite routine.
On Saturday afternoon, before a large crowd at the Johnson & Wales University gymnasium, the gifted Tigers nailed down their third consecutive state title – this time in the Medium Schools Division – with a point total of 182.20, nearly 25 ahead of runner-up Portsmouth (157.30).
Still, earning crowns never gets old for head coach Kelly Ogden, herself a two-time state champ while competing at Tolman (and New England titleist as a senior captain) or assistant (and devoted mom) Carole.
The moment was lost on neither.
“Before the announcements, there were hundreds of girls sitting on the mat anxiously waiting to hear, and I was standing next to Kelly,” Carole stated. “We were holding hands, and so were the kids. It’s interesting, because from that vantage point, we could see the girls and how they reacted.
“We were pretty confident because we knew the girls had done a really good routine,” she continued. “All the stunts, tumbles, motions and jumps were tight and right on point. We had a really good feeling about it, and then they announced Portsmouth as the runner-up.
“When they did, all of the girls – they had been holding hands, too – they jumped up and started hugging each other. Some were crying, but watching it, that was something special.”
Not long before, 10 members of the 12-member squad delivered a two-minute, 30-second routine for the ages, doing so – in part – to Cardi B’s famous tune, “I Like It Like That.”
“We actually had T-shirts made up with that (song) title on the back and Tolman Cheerleading on the front,” Carole stated. “The girls love them.”
The daughter Ogden decided to become a volunteer for her alma mater just a year after she graduated, in 2014, then became the program’s chief the following season. Carole chose to lend her a helping hand, and the two have been a roll ever since.
“Kelly’s the creative genius, the one with the hands-on knowledge and experience about stunts,” Carole admitted. “As for me, I do all the paperwork, take care of the legal requirements, organize schedules and team buses with (Athletic Director) Frank Laliberte, go to (statewide) coaches meetings.”
With a laugh, she added, “I also make all the bows for their hair before competitions.”
Incredibly, this is the third to what the Ogdens hope is a string of state titles. Carole indicated if future teams have the same drive and devotion as this group, there should be more on the horizon.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the girls – and us, too,” she said. “These kids are the strongest girls I’ve ever seen; I mean, physically strong. They spent so much time on conditioning, making sure they could all last the (two-plus minutes). They also seemed to genuinely like each other, which is critical.
“Everyone was working for a common goal. They knew they wouldn’t succeed unless each and every one of them gave 110 percent of themselves every time out.”
Tolman isn’t done yet, as it will – travel to Worcester State University on Saturday for the New England Championships.
“We’re very proud of our girls, and p we’re proud of ourselves, Kelly and I,” Carole offered. “Now we’re just focused on helping us continue to get better.
“No, I guess we don’t have much time to celebrate (the state crown).”
Among those champion dozen Tigers: Seniors Janessa Avila, Alexia Cosme, Taylor Durand, Jenna Fernandes, Stephanie Harwood, Brianna Roberts and Arianna Tager; junior Autumn Grinnell; sophomores Eliana Lopez, Bella-Rose Connors and Brianna DaCruz; and frosh Aaliyah Correa.