Grandville
cheer tops tough O-K Red

Sunday,
February 24, 2008

By Cris Greer

The Grand Rapids Press

GRANDVILLE -- With five
teams in the top ten in the Class A rankings, you can bet the O-K Red
competitive cheer finals are one of the toughest in the state.

Host Grandville, ranked
fourth in the state, put together three top rounds to take home the finals
title and the conference crown.

The Bulldogs scored
798.192 points (228, 249.692 and 320.500), while East Kentwood took second
place at 782.884, followed by Jenison, 769.296; Hudsonville, 766.900;
Rockford, 756; West Ottawa, 749.610 and Muskegon, 516.780.

“We
did really good today," said Grandville coach
Julie Smith-Boyd, who has won three state titles. "It's kind of been building,
I hadn't really thought we had peaked yet. All our stunts are starting to hit
a little better. When you have a young team it does take time to get the
rhythm and camaraderie and get the team together.

"Today I was really
happy with all three rounds. Kentwood was like
right there and Jenison came back in the
third round. It's going to be tight next week for regionals.
You have to be on your 'A' game."

Smith-Boyd said the O-K
Red is the best conference in the state.

"I think it is and
it's been that way for a few years," she said.

Grandville senior captain
Kedna Sall said it is all
coming together for the Bulldogs.

"Winning conference
was pretty amazing, we took third last year," Sall
said. "I think we're going to pull through, take regionals,
go to state and hopefully beat Rochester."

East
Kentwood
coach Stacy Sheler was thrilled with her team's
performance.

"We did great.
Rounds one and two are our high scores, they did outstanding in both those
rounds," said Sheler, whose
Falcons are ranked second in the state. "I think we can go and win regionals. I think we're better than any team here.

"We've been getting
better and better each week. Last week we actually beat Grandville by 25
points. I think we have an amazing conference, but this is the first year
that I feel like my team is the best in the conference."

The final order in the
O-K Red is Grandville first, followed by East Kentwood and Jenison (tied for
second), Rockford, Hudsonville, West Ottawa
and Muskegon.

Rockford is ranked seventh in the state,
while Jenison is eighth, and West Ottawa
10th.

Class A regionals are next Saturday at East
Kentwood.

O-K BLUE AT WYOMING PARK:
Cedar Springs squeaked past Comstock
Park to take top
honors. The Red Hawks finished with a three-round score of 734. 924, while
the Panthers closed with a score of 730.352.

O-K WHITE AT LOWELL: Kenowa Hills
won with a final tally of 741.450. Forest Hills was second at 711.294 and Caledonia was third at 692.956.

O-K GOLD AT BYRON CENTER:
Byron Center cruised by posting high scores
in each round. The Bulldogs recorded a final score of 713.518. Middleville
was second at 664.92.