State power
tops local teams at DeltaPlex

Sunday,
February 10, 2008

By Cris Greer

The Grand Rapids Press

WALKER -- Perennial powerhouse Rochester grabbed yet
another competitive cheer trophy, this one at the annual PR Cheer Tournament
on Saturday at DeltaPlex.

The Falcons took first place out of
12 teams in Division 1 with a score of 793.392, followed by local teams
Grandville, 778.704; East Kentwood, 775.260 and Jenison,
761.400.

Rochester, currently ranked first in the state, has won 11 of the
14 state championships and will be going for its fourth consecutive one on
March 7 and 8 at the same site.

"It's important for us to be
able to hit our routines in this building because this is where the state
finals will be," said Rochester
coach Susan Wood, in her 27th year. "So, more than trying to beat the
other teams we're trying to see if we can handle the pressure of being in a
larger building."

The other three state titles in
the history of the MHSAA competitive cheer championships have gone to
Grandville, which finished second to Rochester
at the PR tourney.

"It's good to come here
because you have the same atmosphere, the crowd's really big and the
competition is really good," said Grandville coach Julie Smith-Boyd.
"It's a big one to get up for and it's in our own back yard and we have
a lot of people cheering for us."

"They've (Rochester) made our sport better because of
their athleticism. Everybody is striving, striving, striving to beat them.
They are the best at it."

Smith-Boyd, whose Bulldogs are
ranked second in Division 1, said she was happy with her team's performance.

"We had a couple little
glitches in rounds 1 and 2, but overall I was happy with the energy and their
determination," Smith-Boyd said. "They weren't intimidated at all,
they were going after it. We have a young team so we're kind of coming on
right now. I don't feel like we've peaked yet."

East Kentwood finished third, just a few points
below Grandville.

"This is the best we've ever
done here; it was impressive," said East Kentwood
coach Stacy Sheler, whose Falcons are fifth in
Division 1. "We've never been this good this early in the season."

Comstock Park, currently ranked second in state
in Division 3, took second place with a score of 691.276. Chippewa Hills won
the tourney with a score of 727.352.

"It probably wasn't one of
our best times out, we just didn't execute like we normally do," said Comstock Park coach Kathy Felty,
whose Panthers finished fourth in state last year.
"I think the girls have had better days."

Her team goals?

"To finish first or second in
state; today showed that's definitely a possibility for us," she said.
"Those teams there today are some of the best teams in the state."

DeWitt took first place out of
seven teams in Division 2 Pool A with a score of 717, while Sparta finished second, 707 and last year's
D-2 state champs, Holland Christian, took third at 677. Division 2 Pool B
Allen Park finished first out of seven teams in Pool B with a score of 747,
followed by Cedar Springs, 728. Byron
Center placed fourth at
716.