Mount Sinai cheerleading: 'New environment,' familiar result
Mount Sinai cheerleaders take a selfie during the New York State cheerleading championships in Rochester on March 5. Credit: Lauren Petracca
It may be called Mount Sinai, but after its high school’s extraordinary feat on March 5, this town can now boast an additional title.
The cheerleading capital of New York.
Entering the day tied with Section V’s Avon and Eastridge for the sport’s most New York state championships, the Mount Sinai cheerleading team put on another vibrantly victorious display at Rochester Institute of Technology, winning the Division II Small School title for their third consecutive state crown, while adding a record fourth overall to their collection.
After reflecting on setting the statewide mark, senior Macy Cohn expressed immense gratitude toward her teammates and the history they made together.
“It’s very surreal,” Cohn said. “I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by some very talented girls. I’m just very grateful to have had that experience and to have other people look up to us.
“Honestly, it’s just an honor. It makes me think, ‘Wow, many other people really wish they could be us and have the skills that we do.’ I’m just very grateful for it.”
Making their record-setting performance all the more impressive, Mount Sinai’s four titles have occurred across the span of only six state championship competitions, with the inaugural one taking place in 2016 and the 2021 event being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mustangs also earned their third different division title this year after winning Co-Ed in 2016 followed by back-to-back Division II Large School championships from 2019-2020.
Cohn’s twin sister, Reese, said she and her teammates had one word to describe Mount Sinai’s accomplishment.
“I’ve been on the team for two of the other titles,” Reese Cohn said. “It just made us feel like the work that we’ve put in over the years was worth it. Everyone feels this way, to be four-time state champions is just crazy.”
Macy Cohn said winning another state title was something the team talked about “a lot” entering the season.
“It honestly feels great to be able to add to the school’s record and to what the people who came before us accomplished,” Macy Cohn said. “We just wanted to go out with a great win and we did.”
Mount Sinai coach Megan Wesolowski, who has been at the helm for five years, referenced one of the key factors in Mount Sinai’s success at the state championships as their ability to quickly adapt to the new environment.
“When going to the state championship we look at the score sheet a bit differently than the score sheet we use all year,” Wesolowski said. “So we have to tweak our routine a little bit to appeal to the judges up there.
“They’re a little bit more flashy, whereas when we compete on the Island it’s a little more structured. So after counties we change up the routine a little bit and make sure that we’re solid, that we hit it and then we add in the flashy, fun things that they’ll like.”
Senior Elliana Williams believes capturing the state title record will serve as a legacy that’ll continue long into the program’s future.
“To see the team win when I was younger and not on it, it was so amazing,” Williams said. “Looking back, I think I’m going to be happy that we set an example, precedent and standard for Mount Sinai.”