Mountaineers eye successful switch

Three-time MCCA state champions participate in first MHSAA
competitive cheer finals

Thursday,
March 08, 2007

Iron Mountain
won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4
regional competitive cheerleading championship at East
Jordan. The Mountaineers compete Saturday for the state title.
The team, front row, from left: Ashley Fortner, Kara Behrens, Katey O’Brion, Tia Romagnoli and Aleah Ahrendts. Middle row, from left: assistant coach Erin O’Brion, Shannon Guthridge,
Calyn Olson, Jacki
Villa, Jessica Cowling, Danielle Dionne, Jacqueline Cowling, Ashley Kleikamp, Bridget Cazzola and
head coach Jodi Brueggeman. Back row, from left:
Kylie Pataconi, Courtney DuCharme,
Brittany Ketcham, Meredith Pontti,
Jennifer Hart, Paige Smith, Jennifer Riis, Sarah Hendrickson and Danielle Branz.

By BURT ANGELI,Sports Editor

IRON
MOUNTAIN — Iron Mountain High School, a three-time Michigan
Cheerleading Coaches Association Class C state champion, made the move this
past season to the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s brand of
competitive cheerleading.

Early results indicate the Mountaineers have caught on, winning the Division
4 regional title last week at East Jordan and earning a berth in
Saturday’s state meet at Grand
Rapids.

“This team loves their sport and worked hard throughout the season to
make the changes necessary to compete in the MHSAA format,” said IM
Coach Jodi Brueggeman. “I am proud of their
accomplishments.”

Iron Mountain will join two other U.P.
squads, Gladstone (Division 3) and Munising (Division 4), at the state
championships.

“This team is one of the most dedicated teams, pushing themselves to
make the changes necessary to improve each and every week,” Brueggeman said. “It is a coach’s dream to
have that dedication and to watch the love they have for their sport as they
practice and perform.”

At East Jordan, Iron Mountain posted a 665.5 (193.5 – 186.0
– 286.0) in besting Munising, 628.1; Norway, 611.5; Manistique, 581.9,
and Ishpeming, 568.1.

Mountaineers’ round 1 score was the highest in all of Division 4. Their
overall total of 665.5 was the fifth best.

“It is a true accomplishment to be the only team in our division that
competed last year in MCCA and in its first year MHSAA to make it to state
finals,” said Mountaineer assistant Erin O’Brion.
“We will be facing our toughest competition Saturday.”

The Division 4 state finalists include defending champion Breckenridge and
runner-up up Hudson.
With the average size team of eight girls, Iron
Mountain will be competing with 16
girls Saturday at the Delta Plex in Grand Rapids.

“We are going to state finals to make a difference and show them what
16 amazing athletes can do,” O’Brion
said. “They are not used to seeing big numbers.”

Most of them are “quite happy” with eight to 10 girls, O”Brion noted.

“I truly believe they are going to see us and ask ‘what are they
thinking with all those girls out there?’” “We are going to
have fun and show them what this Mountaineer team is made of.

“Our ultimate goal is to be number one.”

O’Brion saluted the team’s dedication
to hard work and love of the sport.

“It shows every time they step on that mat,” O’Brion
said. “They are a true joy to coach and watch.”

Iron Mountain had six representatives on
the Division 4 all-region team in Katey O’Brion, Kara Behrens, Danielle Dionne, Jessica
Cowling, Jacqueline Cowling and Tia Romagnoli.