Originally published January 22, 2008

Cheer teams shine at Brighton
Invitational

BY DAN STICKRADT

STAFF WRITER

Several OAA
competitive cheer teams were faced with some competitions during the first
couple days after Christmas break. The scores weren’t anything to write
home to mother about.

Things have changed in
recent weeks.

At Saturday’s
Brighton Invitational, the scores reflected teams at mid-season form, and
Division 1 top-ranked Rochester
emerged the victor of the 12-school field with 777.652 points, beating
powerhouses Hartland (741.024) and Grandville (732.024).

League rivals Lake Orion
was fourth (731.464), Rochester Stoney Creek followed in seventh (717.276)
and Troy was
seventh (697.410). Walled Lake
Western finished 10th
(651.244).

“We came back
the first day off after break and we were a mess. I think everyone
was,” admitted veteran Rochester
coach Susan Wood. “Everybody was struggling, being off a couple of
weeks. I think everyone’s routines are much better now. We’ve all
stepped it up since then.”

“We’ve been competing pretty well lately,” added Wood,
whose team has won three competitions during January. “We beat
Grandville and Hartland at the Brighton
(Invite) — beat some pretty good teams. We hit our stunt round the last
couple times out, scoring as high as I can hope for.”

Rochester total
round of 224.5, 243.652 and 309.5, which led all three rounds. Lake Orion
had totals of 210, 224.964 and 296.5; Stoney creek posted totals of 209.5,
221.776 and 286.0; and Troy
finished with 207.5, 209.410 and 280.5. Western had scores of 205.0, 189.744
and 256.0.

Lake Orion
is currently ranked fourth and Stoney Creek
10th in the state in Division 1.