Monday,
March 5, 2007

Competitive cheer coach
ready for one last meet

Maroons' trip to Division 2 finals last event for
successful Peggy Lintemuth

By LEO MARTONOSI Senior
correspondent

Lintemuth

Long-time competitive cheer coach Peggy Lintemuth says the time is right to retire.

She's had a
successful career over 20 years.

The former Holland
Christian head coach will have her final meet Saturday when the Maroons
compete in the Division 2 state finals at the Delta Plex
in Grand Rapids.
Lintemuth is an assistant to her daughter, Holland
Christian coach Beth Cunningham.

"We're
expecting our sixth grandchild," Lintemuth
said. "I haven't been able to see some of their extracurricular
activities because of coaching. Now, I'll be able to see most of the things
I've missed over the years."

Lintemuth helped Holland
Christian become one of the top programs in Division 2.

This year is
Holland Christian's third trip to state. The Maroons were a school-best
second at state in 2005 and placed third last year.

"She's the
best around," said Mike Phelps, former Holland Christian athletic
director and current boys basketball coach.
"They don't come any better."

Lintemuth has a track record
of success in cheerleading.

She took
Fowlerville to two second-place finishes in Class B competitive cheer state
meets and to two sideline cheer state titles.

"We love coach
Lintemuth," said Katelyn
Ver Hage, one of the
Holland Christian's top cheerleaders. "She's taught us so much."

Lintemuth stepped aside
prior to this season, so that her daughter could become head coach. The
Maroons were fortunate to have such a capable replacement for Lintemuth.

It was a win-win
situation, VerHage and Cunningham said.

"It's worked
out well," Cunningham said. "I've learned so much from my
mother."

Lintemuth sees a lot of
herself in her daughter.

"Beth is a
great coach," Lintemuth said. "She loves
coaching. She loves the girls. I know that will continue.

"We think a
lot alike. We have the same philosophy and the same goals, but we have
different personalities."

Cunningham is much
more open than her mother, Lintemuth said.

"I don't think
that's bad," Lintemuth said. "I think
it's rather good, a great thing. I think it's healthy, the lessons you learn
from your teachers and from your coaches."

Lintemuth has enjoyed
working with her daughters. She not only coached all four of her daughters,
but had everyone of them on her staff at one time or
another.

"It was
special to coach all of my daughters, and to work with them," Lintemuth said.

Regardless of how
the Maroons do at the state championship Saturday, Lintemuth
has enjoyed her time with them.

"I can't say
enough about Holland Christian," Lintemuth
said. "It's been an incredible experience, but it's time to move on to
other things."