Originally published February 21, 2008

Adams cheerful about league title, steady climb

By DAN STICKRADT

Staff Writer

In the first year that
Rochester Adams joined the competitive cheer system after years of the
sideline cheer format, the Highlanders finished up reasonable well.

Adams won the OAA
Division II league championship before finishing fourth in a deep Division 1
regional behind state powers Rochester, Lake Orion
and Rochester Stoney Creek.

This season the
Highlanders are on course to at least equal that feat.

Adams won the recent
OAA-II title again and now is focusing on a high finish at the regionals March 1 at Lake Orion.

"Last year was
our first year since the merger of sideline and competitive cheer, so we did
all right. We didn't really know what to expect," said seventh-year Adams head coach Courtney Kezlarian.
"This year we hope to do at least that well at the regional, maybe
better."

Adams won the league
title, held at West Bloomfield, with 713.250
total points at the league meet.

A pair of wins at the
previous two OAA-II jamborees, plus the league meet victory, gave the
Highlanders 20 points in the finals league standings. Waterford Mott (16),
Clarkston (12), West Bloomfield (8) and
Bloomfield Hills Lahser (4) followed suit.

At the league meet, Adams won the first and third rounds, collecting scores
of 211.0 and 298.5. The Highlanders' second-round score of 203.750 was second
to Clarkston (211.030).

"We've performed
well at some of the (invitationals) we've been to
since December," added Kezlarian. "We
would like to finish higher at the regionals this year, or at least (post) a better score. It won't be easy.
There are a lot of very good teams in our regional and I believe there's a
total of 16 schools. I think if we can finish at least fourth, that would be
a realistic goal."