Daniel Hand Gymnastics Wins 5th Straight SCC Title

High school gymnastics in Southern Connecticut just witnessed another chapter of excellence as Daniel Hand secured their 26th overall conference title.

The Tigers claimed their fifth straight Southern Connecticut Conference championship on February 5th at Jonathan Law High School in Milford. With a team score of 137.85, they showcased the kind of depth and consistency that builds dynasties.

Brenna Boucino led the charge for Daniel Hand with a second-place all-around finish, scoring 35.0 points. She placed second on balance beam with a 9.1 and on floor exercise with a 9.0, while adding a third-place bars performance at 8.55.

Teammate Kelly Kelly wasn't far behind, winning the balance beam competition with a 9.15 and finishing third in the all-around with 34.9. Ella Speerli rounded out the Tigers' strength by tying for fifth overall with a 34.7.

The night's brightest star came from the second-place team. Valley Regional's Camile Pagliuco won the all-around title with a score of 35.1, earning the meet's most outstanding performer award.

Pagliuco's consistency across all four events made the difference. She placed third on both floor exercise and vault with 8.95 scores, fifth on beam with a 9.0, and sixth on bars with an 8.2.

North Haven's athletes also made their mark on the competition. Riley Mattox claimed the vault title with a strong 9.25, while teammate Addie Fee won the floor exercise championship with a 9.2 and finished fourth in the all-around.

Why This Inspires

Five consecutive championships don't happen by accident. They're built through years of dedication, early morning practices, and countless hours perfecting routines. These young athletes balance academics, social lives, and the pressure of competition while maintaining the focus needed to excel.

What makes this story even more inspiring is how individual excellence and team success coexisted. Pagliuco's outstanding performance for Valley Regional didn't diminish the Tigers' team victory. Instead, it showed how high school sports can celebrate both personal achievement and collective triumph.

These athletes are proving that sustained excellence is possible when you combine talent with commitment, and that supporting your teammates doesn't mean you can't shine individually.