Season
preview: Competitive cheer

Tuesday,
December 11, 2007

The Grand Rapids Press

Allendale

Coach: Kendra DeRose, sixth season

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Conference
champions, third at regionals

Top returners: Seniors Gabby
Gray, Rachel Wallace, Melissa Beck, Kristin VanderKooi
and Micha Pentico

Outlook: With 15 girls on the
team and a lot of senior leadership, Allendale should be among the
conference favorites.

Coach's comment: "Our
main goal for the season is to repeat as champions. We've been pushing
the girls hard for the season toward that goal. We have a lot of
experience back on our team."

Key date: Allendale
Invitational on Jan. 12

Belding

Coach: Stacy Venneman

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Last in the O-K Blue

Top returners: Juniors Amie Venneman, Sheree Nieto and
Brianna Stevens

Outlook: The program hopes
the conference switch helps it be more competitive.

Coach's comment: "We
have no seniors, but seven juniors and one freshman. Our JV team is also
very large. We're excited about the improving numbers and optimistic
we'll continue to get better."

Key date: Belding
invitational on Jan. 16

Byron Center

Coach: Amy Haas, 12th year

Conference: O-K Gold

2006-07: Third place in
league

Top returners: Seniors Lauren
Patterson, Emily Ray, Jill Gress, Amanda Loehle and Amanda Merritt

Outlook: The Bulldogs hope to
compete for the conference championship.

Coach's comment: "We
should do really well as long as we don't peak too early."

Key date: Feb. 9 at the Deltaplex meet

Caledonia

Coach: Heidi Snoap, fourth year

Conference: O-K Rainbow

2006-07: Fourth in the
conference

Top returners: Juniors Emily Dingman, Morgan Welch, Kelli Warner, Sable Potter,
Angie VandenBout, Danielle Upton, Amber Clark,
Desiree Coblentz and Megan Whitney and
sophomores Abby Schantz and Michelle Rahm

Outlook: The Scots are a
relatively young team, so it may be another year before they reach their
potential.

Coach's comment: "Our
team has the best tumbling we've ever had, which should prove to be very
beneficial in round two. Our goals are to be champions of character,
have our best scores ever and contend for the conference championship.

Key date: Dec. 15
season-opening Jenison Invitational

Calvin Christian

Coach: Amanda VanEss, first year

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Third in the
conference

Top returners: Junior Annamarie Koster, senior
Amy Rhee and sophomores Emily Vegter and
Jackie Gill

Outlook: A small squad might
hurt, but Calvin should be competitive.

Coach's comment: "We're
a very young team, but I think we'll also be good. I feel like we're
very young and very inexperienced, but we've got girls stepping up to
the challenge daily."

Key matchup: Jan. 21, first
O-K Silver jamboree

Cedar Springs

Conference: O-K Blue

Coach: Pam Ingles, second
year

2006-07: Third in the
conference

Top returners: Seniors Emily Gravelin, Holly Schneider, Courtney VanLangen, Melissa Blackmer,
Courtney Jensen and Brandi Curtis

Outlook: Of the 24 girls on
the squad, 12 are seniors, so the Red Hawks will have plenty of
experience to compete in the O-K Blue and at regionals.

Coach's comment: "We
have a lot of experience, so we are hoping for a big year this year. The
girls know what it takes to continue to improve."

Key date: DeltaPlex
Invitational on Feb. 9

Comstock Park

Conference: O-K Blue

Coach: Kathy Felty, 18th year

2006-07: Won conference and
regional titles, fourth at state

Top returners: Seniors Erica Yeomans, Sarah Coble and Rachel Egner,
junior Brittni May and sophomores Alexa Keeme and Haley Vos

Outlook: The Panthers should
be strong again with a good mix of youth, talent and experience.

Coach's comment: "This
is a very talented group of young girls, and I'm excited to get
started."

Key date: CCAM meet at Comstock Park on Dec. 15

Coopersville

Conference: O-K Blue

Coach: Kristy Ellis, second
year

2006-07: Fifth in the
conference

Top returners: Seniors Kyra Boman, Nicole Huisken and Briquel Smoes and juniors
Staci Lothschutz and Diana Bosman

Outlook: The Broncos have a
small squad with only 10 girls on the team, but they expect to be
strong.

Coach's comment: "A
small lineup can be good because you can be neater with small
numbers."

Key date: Allendale
Invitational on Jan. 12

East Kentwood

Coach: Stacy Sheler

Conference: O-K Red

2006-07: Fourth in the state,
second in the conference

Top returners: Four-year
varsity performers Bianca Martin, Lynzi Zuk and Taylor Manzella

Outlook: The Falcons lost
four seniors to graduation.

Coach's comment: "It's
an amazing group of girls. There's enough talent to contend for
state."

Key date: Falcon Fest on Feb.
2

Forest Hills Central (co-op with
Forest Hills Eastern, Forest Hills Northern)

Coach: Leslie Landis, third
year

Conference: O-K Rainbow

2006-07: Won the conference
championship

Top returners: Seniors Taylor
Argo, Melissa DenHerder, Brianna Kearney,
Alicia Needham, Marissa VanderWeele and
Kristin Winn

Outlook: The Forest Hills program is starting to look up as it
went from 13 girls last year to more than 30 this year. The district
will field a JV team for the first time in three years.

Coach's comment: "The
team is working very hard and meshing well as a unit right now. This is
an extremely dedicated group. If they continue to push the way they are,
we will have a very successful season."

Key date: Feb. 6 jamboree at
FHN

Forest Hills Eastern (co-op with
Forest Hills Central, Forest Hills Northern)

Coach: Leslie Landis, third
year

Conference: O-K Rainbow

2006-07: Won the conference
championship

Top returners: Seniors Taylor
Argo, Melissa DenHerder, Brianna Kearney,
Alicia Needham, Marissa VanderWeele and
Kristin Winn

Outlook: The Forest Hills program is starting to look up as it
went from 13 girls last year to more than 30 this year. The district will
field a JV team for the first time in three years.

Coach's comment: "The
team is working very hard and meshing well as a unit right now. This is
an extremely dedicated group. If they continue to push the way they are,
we will have a very successful season."

Key date: Feb. 6 jamboree at
FHN

Forest Hills Northern (co-op with
Forest Hills Central, Forest Hills Eastern)

Coach: Leslie Landis, third
year

Conference: O-K Rainbow

2006-07: Won the conference
championship

Top returners: Seniors Taylor
Argo, Melissa DenHerder, Brianna Kearney,
Alicia Needham, Marissa VanderWeele and
Kristin Winn

Outlook: The Forest Hills program is starting to look up as it
went from 13 girls last year to more than 30 this year. The district
will field a JV team for the first time in three years.

Coach's comment: "The
team is working very hard and meshing well as a unit right now. This is
an extremely dedicated group. If they continue to push the way they are,
we will have a very successful season."

Key date: Feb. 6 jamboree at
FHN

Godwin Heights

Coach: Chris Hudson, fifth
year

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Third in O-K Silver

Top returners: Senior Tori Edwards, junior Shannon Vanderploeg
and sophomore Becky Brinks

Outlook: A young team that
will look to be competitive and finish in the upper half of the O-K
Silver.

Coach's comment: "Being
a young team, we plan to focus on improving our round two scores. We're
learning as we go, but we seem to be getting stronger every day."

Key date: March 2 regionals at Wyoming Park

Grandville

Coach: Julie Smith-Boyd, 27th
year

Conference: O-K Red

2006-07: regional champions,
Division 1 state runner-up

Top returners: Seniors Kedna Sall, Jillayne Kurtz,
Brittany Blevins, Katelyn Oosterhouse and Rachel Kishman
and junior Kelsey Byxbe

Newcomers: Sophomores
Kristina Lange, Jenna Richardson and Kelsey VanderWiere

Outlook: The Bulldogs are
young, with only seven seniors, but will reload with a group of juniors
and sophomores.

Coach's comment: "We
have very mature, committed athletes and we have high hopes of our
season."

Key date: Preseason
conference meet on Jan. 9

Grant

Coach: Kathy Brackett,
seventh year

Conference: Coastal
Competitive

2006-07: Second in conference

Top returners: Seniors Hannah
Nelson, Noel Leon and Tabatha Frey

Outlook: The Tigers will
venture out of their conference this season, looking for more
competition outside the area.

Coach's comment: "Our
goal is to take at least second if not do better than we did last
year."

Key date: Jan. 23 at Montague

Hastings

Coach: Amy Hubbell, second
year

Conference: O-K Gold

2006-07: Ninth in the
conference

Top returners: The Saxons
have five four-year athletes -- Sara Radant,
Brittany Lepard, Molly Koutz,
Tiffany McCloud and Nichole Moser.

Outlook: Six girls either
didn't come out or graduated from last year's team, but it's still
experienced.

Coach's comment: "We've
worked on refining our precision and our jumps and the little things
that we need to be better."

Key date: Saxon Fest on Jan.
19

Holland Christian

Coach: Darlene Draisma, first year

Conference: O-K Green

2006-07: Division 2 state
champions scored an average of 697.1 points

Top returners: Seniors
Courtney Petroelje, Charlotte Oonk and Sarah Rietema and
junior Katelyn VerHage

Outlook: The Maroons have a
strong senior class to lean on as they defend their state championship.

Coach's comment: "We
just want to work hard and have fun again this season, and wherever that
takes us, we'll be happy with."

Key date: O-K Green preseason
meet at Reeths-Puffer on Jan. 9

Hopkins

Coach: Autumn Kraima

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Sixth in conference

Top returners: Seniors
Rachael Deater, Eva LaBay,
Chelsea Mschar, Heather Napieralski
and Kelsey Williams

Outlook: Hopkins is hoping to rebound and
compete for a conference championship by taking advantage of its
experience.

Coach's comment: "I'm
really excited for the season. We're much further along than in years
past."

Key date: Jan. 21 league
jamboree at Calvin Christian

Jenison

Coach: Wendy Kenney, 11th
year

Conference: O-K Red

2006-07: Fourth place in
league

Top returners: Seniors Emillie Barense, Casey
Chestnut, Rhianna D'Amico, Kelly Dotson, Treise Healy and Cathy Mazure

Outlook: An experienced trio
of four-year team members (D'Amico, Dotson and Mazure)
will have to provide leadership to the younger half of a squad that lost
four seniors from last year.

Coach's comment: "We
have a lot of good tumblers this year. They're very good at
stunting."

Key date: Jan. 9 at
Hudsonville

Kelloggsville

Coach: Stephanie Jenkins,
first year

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Fifth in the
conference

Top returners: Juniors
Sabrina Jenkins and Stephanie Strotheide,
sophomore Lisa Rypma and senior Elizabeth
Cramer

Outlook: Jenkins, whose
younger sister is on the team, should have a decent first season with
girls who are more experienced on the mats than last season.

Coach's comment: "I
personally think we'll do good this year.
Pretty much a lot of the same girls are back, we're just going for
smaller numbers with stronger girls. Their talent may be better than a
year ago."

Key date: Dec. 15 at CCCAM
Invitational (Comstock
Park)

Kenowa Hills

Coach: Brenda Looks (third
year)

Conference: O-K Rainbow

Top returnees: Senior Kamara Schmidt, juniors Casey Viilo,
Brianna Novitsky, Stacy VanDriel,
Laurel Pennell, Brianna McNees, Michelle Karas, Katie Zalewski and Shaina Wabindato.

Outlook: The Knights are a
very young team, with a roster consisting of nine juniors.

Coach's comment: "We
have a very talented, young team, and we are looking to do very
well."

Key date: Feb. 23, the final conference meet.

Lakewood

Coach: Kim Martin, seventh
year

Conference: Capital Area
Activities

2006-07: 6-4

Top returners: Seniors
Courtney Ellison and Lauren Erb and sophomore
Whitney Holaski

Outlook: The Vikings have a
lot of incoming youth with five sophomores and one freshman, but should
be able to match last season's performance.

Coach's comment: "It's
kind of a rebuilding year, but we have a lot of strengths and talent.
The inexperience on the mat could hurt us this year."

Key date: Jan. 13 vs. DeWitt

Lee

Coach: Jody Jensen, sixth
year

Conference: O-K Silver

2006-07: Third place in
Silver

Top returners: Seniors
Danielle Dusendang, Moriah
Moore, Olga Morales, Keishla Rodriguez and Lluvia Sarabia

Outlook: The Rebels return a
handful of four-year performers and may be the best squad in the
program's six-year history

Coach's comment: "We
have these huge dreams, and if they come true it'll be amazing for this
school and these girls."

Key date: Rebel Invitational
at Lee on Dec. 15

Lowell

Coach: Kari Dawson, third
year

Conference: O-K White

2006-07: Fifth place among 10
teams in the O-K Rainbow

Top returners: Seniors
Mackenzie Conley, Tara Beran, Hannah Fleet and
Laura Walsh

Outlook: Many of the athletes
on the team participated in gymnastics classes in the offseason to learn
new skills.

Coach's comment: "I
believe our strongest asset is our stunting. My girls are always up for
a challenge, as they are fearless and confident in what they are
doing."

Key date: Lowell Invitational on Feb. 2

Middleville

Coach: Abby DeWildt

Conference: O-K Gold

2006-07: Sixth in the
conference

Top returners: The five
seniors who have been on the team all three years are Jennifer Noffke, Heidi VanderHeide,
Lauren Tandy, Katie Opatik-Duff and Angel Mazzucco.

Outlook: A senior-laden team
should challenge for a league title.

Coach's comment: "We
should definitely compete for a conference championship and go on to
state."

Key date: First home league
jamboree Jan. 23

Northview

Coach: Cheryl Hutchings,
fifth year

Conference: O-K White

2006-07: Seventh in O-K
White, ninth at regionals

Top returners: Senior Vanessa
Braun, junior Michelle Kistler, Ari Church and Shelby Fuller and
sophomore Becca Cole

Outlook: The Wildcats look to
improve each time out and move up in the league standings.

Coach's comment: "Our
team this year is the most talented group we've had here. Their work
ethic, experience and team chemistry will take them a long way in
achieving their goals and raising the bar for Northview."

Key date: Northview Wildcat
Invitational on Jan. 16

Rockford

Coach: Kathy Jo Resseguie,
14th year

Conference: O-K Red

2006-07: Fifth in Red

Top returners: Junior Andrea
Decker and sophomores Sarah Birkmeier, Lindsey
Blodgett, Torri Mills and Nicole Siderius

Outlook: The Rams return 18
from last year's squad and may have the most talented team in school
history, but senior leaders will have to groom that young talent

Coach's comment:
"Everybody's out there to win, but our focus is going to be on our
team. If we do that, we'll get better and better, and hopefully that
will show on the floor."

Key date: Jan. 9 at
Hudsonville

Rogers

Coach: Jessica Blakemore,
first year

Conference: O-K Blue

2006-07: Finished sixth in
the league

Top returners: Seniors Nicole
Angel, Laura Johnson and Eva Phan

Outlook: The Golden Hawks
will look to move up into the top half of the conference, and possibly
qualify for state competition

Coach's comment: "I feel
like we have a lot of potential to improve this season. We've got a
really positive group of girls who are extremely dedicated and always
working hard."

Key date: Jan. 16 at Sparta (O-K Blue
Conference meet)

Saranac

Coach: Breanne Wood, first
year

Conference: none

2006: Competed only in five invitationals, best finish was third at Central Montcalm

Top returnees: Seniors
Jessica Brown and Nicole Wray

Outlook: The team has a new
coach, only two returning members and six freshman,
but has shown promise so far.

Coach's comment: "So far
they look pretty good. There is a lot of talent there and even though we
have six freshmen, most of them have basic tumbling skills, which is
unusual, so I won't have to start at the bottom like I thought I would
have to do."

Key date: Jan. 12, first
meet, at St. Johns.

Sparta

Conference: O-K Blue

Coach: Kensey
May, sixth year

2006-07: Second in the O-K
Blue

Top returners: Seniors Hannah
Starring, Ashley Ferrell and Sheryl Armock and
sophomore Andrea Kober

Outlook: The Spartans are
young with 14 freshmen and sophomores on the team.

Coach's comment: "This
is a very talented team skill-wise, now we just have to get their
experience at that level."

Key date: First O-K Blue meet
Jan. 16, the first meet Sparta
has hosted in six years.

Tri County

Coach: Jennisfer
Loskey, fourth year

Conference: Coastal
Competitive Cheer Conference

2006-07: Finished third in
the conference, behind Shelby and Montague

Top returners: Seniors
Stefanie DeVandy and Jolene Gitchell

Outlook: The Vikings return
15 members of last year's team, and Loskey has
coached some of them since they were in seventh grade.

Coach's comment: "We are
looking for a really good year. The girls know what it takes, so it's a
matter of getting it done."

Key date: Feb. 13, when
Vikings host the final conference meet

Unity Christian

Coach: Jeni
Hansen, first year

Conference: O-K Green

2006-07: Third in conference,
fourth at regionals

Top returners: Seniors
Michelle VanDam, Carly
Barnes and Codi Newman

Outlook: The Crusaders are
aiming for their first appearance in the state finals.

Coach's comment:
"They're very motivated. I'm amazed at them and how well they're
doing. I'm hoping for a very, very good year."

Key date: Dec. 15 at Allegan

Wayland

Coach: Diane Martus, third year

Conference: O-K Gold

2006-07: Fifth of 11 teams in
the conference, fifth at regional

Top returners: Senior Liz Josey and freshman Taylor Akers.

Outlook: Six girls who
compete in all three rounds return. The Wildcats have eight juniors and
seven sophomores.

Coach's comment: "We'd
like to be No. 1 in our conference, but we're young."

Key date: Feb. 23 conference
meet at Byron
Center

West Ottawa

Coach: Kristine Brandt,
second year

Conference: O-K Red

2006-07: Four first-place
finishes, five second-place finishes and four third-place finishes

Top returners: Seniors
Brittney Gonzales, Amanda Janowiak, Jacqui Kammeraad and Amanda Marsh and junior Erin McGovern

Outlook: The Panthers are
trying to advance past regional competition for the first time in three
years.

Coach's comment: "Our
main goal is to keep beating our scores and constantly improve. We have
a lot of returning girls and a lot of leadership."

Key date: Jan. 9
Pre-conference at Hudsonville

Zeeland East

Coach: Abby Lake,
first year

Conference: O-K Green

2006-07: Last place in the
Green

Top returners: Senior Beka Taylor, junior Ashley Bouwman
and sophomore Rachel Tamminga

Outlook: It's only the second
year of competitive cheer at Zeeland East, so it will be another
learning season.

Coach's comment: "We're
kind of starting simple. Our routines are very basic so the team can
work on the skills to better themselves. I only have 12, but it's a
hard-working group."

Key date: Jan. 5 at Byron
Center Invitational

Zeeland West

Coach: Jessica Brinks, third
year

Conference: O-K Green

2006-07: Fifth place in
conference

Top returners: Seniors Megan Sprik, Melissa Kamps and
Meagan Joustra

The Dux will rely on strong
leadership and improved skills to move up in the conference.

Coach's comment: "I'm
very excited about this season. We have a lot of potential."

Key dates: Feb. 21 at Holland
Christian post conference; March 1 regionals