PROVIDENCE — Mt. Hope gymnastics’ return to the podium was staggering. And Cranston West dusted last year’s loss with its championship-clinching finish.
The Huskies dominated the Division I field from the onset after not qualifying for the state championship last winter. The Falcons, though, used a clutch floor routine to win D-II after finishing runner-up last winter by less than a point.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMt. Hope’s 140.225 overall score lifted the Bristol-Warren school to its first gymnastics championship since the 2018-19 winter. And Cranston West, behind Gianna Desmarais’ All-Around excellence, secured its first crown since the 2019-20 winter with a 135.475 finish. The Falcons rallied on their last event of the night against last year’s league winner, Prout/Exeter West Greenwich.
“We were talking today about how individual performances really don’t matter,” Mt. Hope’s Kara Pisasale said. “It’s about putting your best performance forward for your team. I fell on Beam, and normally I’d be upset, but I knew there was going to be someone else competing that will help keep the scores up. We were just really focused.”
“It feels amazing coming into this competition and taking first place in D-II,” Desmarais said. “It really shows how hard we practiced and how much it paid off.”
For more on the high school gymnastics team championships at Rhode Island College’s Murray Center on Feb. 14, read on below:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHuskies dominate with deep team
Pisasale’s sophomore leap last year included a third-overall finish in the All-Around competition. She also captured gold in Floor, but without the Huskies qualifying for the team event, something was missing.
That changed as Elle Rodrigues returned this season from a back injury and the Huskies added a host of talent to the program. Pisasale landed a 9.4 on floor to win the event and then Charlotte Piper and Rodrigues, both sophomores, finished second and third.
“I think this feels better,” Pisasale said. “As great as it was winning floor last year, and getting all the awards, this year I get to share it with the whole team and it’s more special.”
Mt. Hope High School’s Kara Pisasale jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.Floor was the Huskies’ final event of the night and they left little doubt who was the best program at Rhode Island College. Mt. Hope snagged a 36.875 score on the Floor — over two full points better than the next closest D-I team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We’ve just had this idea all season that we could do it,” Piper said. “I think once we got to floor, the energy went back up. It’s really hot in here, but it cooled a little bit [on floor]. Everyone’s vibe just went back up.
“I think it’s safe to say that we’re all one massive family. I think some people might think that since we’re a big team, we don’t have the same connection, but it’s the opposite. We’re so connected and our performances bounce off each other in such positive ways.”
Rodrigues finished first in All-Around for D-I with a 35.925 overall score and Pisasale was right behind (35.9). Mt. Hope then breezed to the title behind Piper (34.1 All-Around) and contributions from Madeline Rozea, Aliza Morgan and Aubrey Birchall.
“It was so great for us to come together and all do great on Floor,” Rodrigues said. “We didn’t know we had won until the end. But I was just really proud of everyone.”
Mt. Hope High School gymnastic team members take first place in the RIIL Division I gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School gymnastic team members celebrate after being announced as first place winners in the RIIL Division I gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School finished first in the RIIL Division II gymnastics team championship meet, with Prout School placing second and Barrington High School finishing third. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School’s Nyree Corriveau competes on the vault during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Samantha Vance of the North Kingstown High/East Greenwich gymnastics team flips in her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Barrington High School’s Carmela Arden jumps in her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Kara Pisasale competes on the vault during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Madeline Rozea competes on the bars during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Portsmouth High School’s Lexi Owen smiles on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Madeline Rozea jumps off the beam to land during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Kara Pisasale jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Portsmouth High School’s Kiara McLellan jumps as part of her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Prout School gymnastics team members cheer on a teammate during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School’s Lexee Felicio performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais hugs team members after her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School gymnastics team members cheer on Isabella Brando’s floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Aubrey Birchall performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.
Mt. Hope High School’s Aliza Morgan smiles for her team members as she presents one of their scores during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.1 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School gymnastic team members take first place in the RIIL Division I gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.1 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School gymnastic team members take first place in the RIIL Division I gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.2 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School gymnastic team members celebrate after being announced as first place winners in the RIIL Division I gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.3 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School finished first in the RIIL Division II gymnastics team championship meet, with Prout School placing second and Barrington High School finishing third. Feb. 14, 2026.4 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School’s Nyree Corriveau competes on the vault during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.5 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Samantha Vance of the North Kingstown High/East Greenwich gymnastics team flips in her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.6 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Barrington High School’s Carmela Arden jumps in her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.7 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Kara Pisasale competes on the vault during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.8 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Madeline Rozea competes on the bars during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.9 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Portsmouth High School’s Lexi Owen smiles on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.10 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.11 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Madeline Rozea jumps off the beam to land during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.12 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Kara Pisasale jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.13 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Portsmouth High School’s Kiara McLellan jumps as part of her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.14 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Prout School gymnastics team members cheer on a teammate during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.15 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School’s Lexee Felicio performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.16 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.17 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais hugs team members after her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.18 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School gymnastics team members cheer on Isabella Brando’s floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.19 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Aubrey Birchall performs her floor routine during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.20 / 20Take a look: RIIL gymnastics state team championships
Mt. Hope High School’s Aliza Morgan smiles for her team members as she presents one of their scores during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.Falcons capture title in the clutch
Last year’s loss, which saw Prout/Exeter-West Greenwich take first by 0.65, sent Cranston West on a path to redemption. Cranston West returned the favor to the co-op with its victory by 0.60.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the title win was on shaky ground as Cranston West transitioned into the final rotation. Prout/EWG, after taking the advantage through two rotations, led 102.275-101.75 heading into the last event. The Falcons’ best routine, though, remained and they starred on the Floor.
Desmarais earned a 9.3 routine and Lexee Felicio nabbed an 8.85 score to pace the Falcons’ 34.4 championship-clinching score. It was clutch time and Cranston West didn’t let another title slip away.
Cranston West High School’s Gianna Desmarais jumps on the beam during the RIIL gymnastics team championship meet. Feb. 14, 2026.“We were pretty confident, but it wasn’t until we were announced that we knew we won,” Madilyn Bolton said.
Desmarais secured top honors in All-Around at 37.350 and will certainly be the favorite in Sunday’s individual championship. She’ll look for her second straight All-Around title after breaking through as a sophomore. And she could challenge Alyssa Worthington’s All-Around record of 37.95 from 2018.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’m just happy to win as a team,” Desmarais said. “Especially coming in second last year, it just feels amazing to come in here and win.”
Mt. Hope, Cranston West and Prout/Exeter-West Greenwich all qualified for the New England Championship in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on March. 7.
Full team results
DIVISION I
1. Mt. Hope, 140.225; 2. Portsmouth, 134.100; 3. Barrington, 127.250; 4. Coventry, 125.175.
DIVISION II
1. Cranston West, 135.475; 2. Prout/Exeter-West Greenwich, 134.875; 3. North Kingstown/East Greenwich, 134.325; 4. Middletown, 129.300.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mt. Hope and Cranston West won 2026 gymnastics team championships
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