MHS cheer team beats South Lyon

Thursday, February 8, 2007

By Patrick Pinter

SPORTS WRITER

The Milford varsity competitive cheer team has
faced a lot of adversity this season when it comes to injuries — some
of which have resulted from cheering and others that haven't.

"The team has been
through a lot with injuries this year," said Milford head coach Lisa Hoffman. "We
have had some strange injuries this year."

Either way the
Mavericks are starting to build confidence heading toward the end of the
season as the team gets healthy.

"Every time we
have competed this year we have come back stronger and stronger," said
Hoffman. "Every week we have been getting better and better."

That confidence was
evident Wednesday night at Milford High School as the Mavericks varsity team defeated South Lyon. Milford
collected 646.4 points compared to the Lions score of 633.3

"Coming in we
really didn't have any major changes," said Hoffman. "Every week we
try to add new things, but there were no drastic changes. I think that is why
the girls have confidence in what they do."

Milford opened the competition with a strong
performance and improved in each of the next two rounds. The Mavericks held a
179-174 lead after round one and followed that up with a score of 182.4 in
round two.

In the second round the
South Lyon varsity team had some issues with
some of its stunts, and it was reflected in the team's score. The Lions
registered a score of 175.3 while competing in the third spot in the second
round.

In round three the
Lions, who scored a 284, couldn't quite match the routine the Mavericks put
together. Milford,
who scored a 285 in round three, was able to perfect most of its stunts to
come away with the victory. Even though Milford
had a strong showing Hoffman knows there is always plenty of room for
progress.

"There is always
room for improvement," said Hoffman. "We know we still have to
improve, but I was very happy with the girls."

The South Lyon junior
varsity team and the Milford
freshmen team also competed at the competition. The South Lyon jv team finished with a score of 458.9 and the Milford freshmen
finished with a score of 399.8.

Milford's scores in each of the first three
rounds were 113.5, 107.8 and 178.5. South Lyon
scores in the three rounds were 123.5, 119.9 and 215.5.

The Mavericks return to
action next Wednesday when they host Pinckney. They will then compete at the
Kensington Valley Conference Championships on Feb. 17.

"We have two more
KVC matches left," said Hoffman. "After that we will be gearing up
for regionals."