The Barrington High School cheer team captured the Division II State Championship last weekend. 

The victory followed a first place finish at divisionals (RICCA Championships) the previous weekend, said Barrington Coach Kayla Toman, who co-coaches with her sister, Jamie Coughlin. 

In fact, the Eagles have placed in the top-three at every invitational competition they entered this winter. 

“This is a very determined group of girls,” Coach Toman said.

This year’s team includes senior Ava Maddox, juniors Sally Mellet, Mia Casanova, Ivy Simon and Addi Corrow, sophomore Sophia DePrisco, and freshmen Josslyn Daley, Kaya Drake, Francesca Pesce, Julianna Macera and Lilliana Collins. 

Coach Toman said the Eagles featured the perfect combination of experienced older athletes and hard-working, determined underclassmen. The Eagles are also quite strong at tumbling. 

Coach Toman said a big portion of the scoresheet at the state competition is determined by tumbling and the Eagles have some talented tumblers — Toman praised the efforts of Daley, Drake, Pesce and Simon. The coach added: “Overall, nine took the mat and each played an integral part in the routine.”

The Eagles were not feeling overly confident after completing their routine at states, however.

“They were honestly upset,” Coach Toman said. “It wasn’t as strong as they thought they could be.”

But their feelings shifted dramatically when the judges began announcing the team finishes. Once the Eagles did not hear their name called out in second place they began celebrating, knowing they had brought home the state championship. 

“The best part was seeing their reaction,” Coach Toman said, adding that she believes the state championship was the first in Barrington High School’s cheerleading history. 

Barrington will be attending the New England Championship this Saturday.