Holland Christian claims
state cheer crown

Sunday,
March 11, 2007

By Cris Greer

The Grand Rapids Press

State
champions

Holland Christian's competitive cheer
team goes through its routine Saturday at the DeltaPlex. The Maroons won a
Division 2 state title.

WALKER -- It was a bittersweet day for
the Holland Christian competitive cheer team at the Division 2 state finals
Saturday at the DeltaPlex.

The Maroons won their
first state title in assistant coach Peggy Lintemuth's
final competition by finishing nearly 10 points ahead of second-place DeWitt.

Lintemuth, who's been coaching for 20 years
and began developing the Holland Christian program
five years ago, turned the reins over to daughter Beth Cunningham this
season.

"I don't like this
whole thing about her being done," said a
teary-eyed Cunningham, whose Maroons have won two regional titles and four
O-K Green conference titles in a row. "She'll be around; she's not going
to be a stranger.

"It's great to be
able to experience this with my mom; I know all the hard work she's put into
the program."

Lintemuth said she's been telling her team
winning doesn't change your life, but it's the journey that counts.

"I told them on
Monday I don't even want to hear the 'W' word," said Lintemuth,
who won two sideline state championships at Fowlerville before coming to
Holland Christian. "They knew they had it in them and were able to put
it out on the floor.

Holland Christian tallied
722.30 points, followed by DeWitt (712.80), Allen Park
(709), Mt. Pleasant
(707.90), Gibraltar Carlson (691.80), Sparta
(670.20), Portage Northern (654.20), Mattawan (651.30), St. Clair (638.10)
and Oxford
(614.10).

"We definitely peaked
today," said Cunningham, whose team has been ranked No. 1 for several weeks.
"We just told our girls we don't need to focus on the outcome of the
day, but on doing your personal best."

DIVISION 3: Chesaning won
its fifth state title with a score of 727.60, followed by Chippewa Hills
(708.30), Grosse Ile (682.60) and Comstock
Park (681.30). The
Panthers had a 1/2-point lead over Chesaning and Chippewa Hills after round
one, but moved to third place at the end of two. "I'm very happy with
fourth; they should be proud of that," Comstock Park
coach Kathy Felty said. Rounding out the top 10 were Otsego, Gladstone,
Wyoming Park, Three
Rivers, Richmond and Onsted.