Strong start
buoys Rockford
cheer to win

Sunday,
January 20, 2008

By
Dean Holzwarth

The Grand Rapids Press

HUDSONVILLE -- Last weekend it was
round 3 that propelled the Rockford
competitive cheer team to victory.

On Saturday, an improved round 1
proved to be the difference as the team won the Division 1 title at the
Hudsonville Invitational.

The Rams, ranked No. 5 in the
state in Division 1, finished with a three-round total of 757.56 to defeat
West Ottawa (737.830) and the host Eagles (720.960).

Rockford coach Kathy Jo Resseguie acknowledged that round 1 had
been the squad's weakness thus far, but it reversed that trend with a score
of 222.500 -- the highest among the seven teams competing.

"Round 1 was probably our
highlight today," Resseguie said. "We worked very hard this week on
round 1. We've continually been last after round 1 and we really didn't want
that this week.

"They wanted to step it up
and it was exciting to see their hard work pay off today."

Rockford senior Katie Sakala said the team was determined to begin
the competition with better early results.

"We worked so hard this week
to try and change and improve round 1 because that was our weakness,"
she said. "We totally stepped it up today and really made the best
effort we could give. It really showed on the mat."

The Rams maintained their lead
throughout the afternoon by recording high scores in round 2 and round 3 as
well.

"This team has been doing
awesome and we're showing people that we're not the underdog anymore,"
Sakala said.

After struggling the past few
years to compete with the elite teams in the state, Rockford has begun to thrive with
experience (18 returnees) and depth.

"A ton of confidence is being
built every week," Resseguie said. "In years' past, Rockford has struggled
to be on top, but I feel this year we're changing that a little bit.

"The girls are stepping up
when they need to in the areas they need to. We don't have a weak link right
now."

In Division 2, Allendale collected
top honors with a final score of 604.155. The Falcons edged runner-up
Kelloggsville (600.308).