Bobcats earn two first-place trophies at Cheer on the Lake

February 22, 2007

LET’S GO BLUE Senior Bucks cheerleader Erin Peterson shines
during a turn on the mat at Cheer on the Lake.
The Bucks scored 485 points. Photo by Eric Hamp

The Houghton Lake Bobcats maximized
their home-mat advantage Saturday at Cheer on the Lake,
earning first place trophies in the varsity and JV divisions.

The varsity ‘Cats led every round, scoring their highest score of the
season, a 651.1. They bested three other teams in Division III action,
including the Roscommon Bucks, who placed fourth.

By the end of Round 2 the Bobcats’ score was 293, 16.1 points ahead
of their closest competitors, the Harrison Hornets. Round 3 saw the Bobcats
performing at their peak this season.

“Our Round 3 was as good as we’ve ever done it,” Coach
Celeste Kubiak said.

While the routine was solid, it ended with base Stephanie Foster getting
hit in the nose by her flyer. Kubiak said,
knowing Foster, Foster will likely not let it hold her back for the next
competition.

Roscommon placed fourth out of four teams. The Bucks’ top score this
season was 499.9 at their “Shake the Room” invitational Feb.
10.

The final scores in Division III were Houghton
Lake, 651.1; Harrison,
612.5; Birch Run, 494.5; and Roscommon, 485.

The JV ‘Cats trailed Clio at the end of Round 2, 267.3-269.5, but
they came back strong in Round 3 with a score of 233 over Clio’s
196.5. The Harrison Hornets also recovered in Round 3 with a score of
220.5, elevating them to second place at the end of the match. Final scores
in the JV Division were Houghton Lake, 500.3; Harrison,
469.7; and Clio, 466.

In Division II, Gaylord bested Clio, 682.6-632. Houghton Lake Middle School
cheerleaders placed second against Clio, 261.1-317.7. (Middle school squads
performed in Rounds 2 and 3 only.)

In preparation for an invitational Saturday at Breckenridge, the Houghton Lake varsity team will be
“tweaking” Round 2 and “polishing” Round 3, Kubiak said. “We are looking forward to regionals in two weeks.”

Houghton Lake
and Roscommon will attend regional competition March 3 at Houghton Lake.
The top two teams will advance to state competitive cheer action. Kubiak said schools in the Upper Pensinsula
such as Kingsford and Gladstone will give the ‘Cats a run for their money,
as will top-ranked Remus-Chippewa Hills, which earned the 2006 state
competitive cheer championship in Class B with a score of 733.5.