Cristini headed to Mercyhurst
It's been an emotional roller coaster for Ridgway senior Celeste Cristini, who signed her letter of intent on Thursday to compete for the Mercyhurst Stunt team.
In February, the daughter of Brian Cristini and Nicole Cristini completed the paperwork to compete for the Davis & Elkins (West Virginia) Acrobatic and Tumbling squad, only to be informed later the college dropped the sport.
"I was pretty upset," Cristini said at the signing in the RAHS library. "The tough part was losing the scholarship money. It was disappointing because I had an official visit scheduled with Mercyhurst before I committed to Davis & Elkins, and I canceled it. So, I'm happy I'm getting a shot and hopefully can earn a scholarship."
The Ridgway senior, who cheered at all levels and was a gymnast, said attending the Erie school would help her achieve her career goals.
"Mercyhurst has an exact major for what I want to do. They have forensic science, and Davis & Elkins just had criminology. Forensic science is the route I want to take, so it will work out well."
The Mercyhurst stunt team, which completed its first season, is coached by Ruthanne Mineo. The sport incorporates skills derived from cheerleading. But instead of being crowd-leading, it is an exciting headto-head game between teams that execute skills-based routines in various categories— partner stunts, jumps and tumbling, pyramids and tosses, and team routines. According to the Mercyhurst website, the college was the first in Pennsylvania
to compete in the sport.
Dad Brian Cristini is thrilled his daughter can continue with sports at the collegiate level.
"We were [disappointed] when Davis & Elkins cut their program, so I'm happy Mercyhurst took her in and is giving her a shot. It's also nice that it's only a two-hour drive instead of a five-hour drive, and we're looking forward to seeing her compete."
"She was disappointed, but they (Davis & Elkins) did apologize to her and did right by her at the end of the day," said Mom Nicole Cristini. "We were worried she wouldn't find an opportunity, so I'm happy Mercyhurst is giving her one."
Along with her parents, Principal Noel Petrosky, and Ridgway Athletic Director Rick Viglione, Cristini was joined at Thursday's signing by her classmates Bridgette Breindl, Katie DeCarli, Jenna Kasmierski, and Kelly Matha, and junior Dixi Gorske.
The Ridgway senior smiled when asked if she ever thought she would compete in college.
"It's crazy to think I've been cheering for my entire life, and if you would have asked me if I would be competing [after high school], I'd have said shut up. It's amazing, and I'm determined to make the most of the opportunity."