Originally published March 8, 2008

Rochester cheer team denied fourth straight crown

Stoney Creek takes fourth, Athens seventh

BY DAN STICKRADT

ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER

On its resume, Rochester had won nine
out of 10 competitions this season. The falcons held down the No. 1 spot in
the Division 1 competitive cheer state rankings all season.

Furthermore, Rochester has claimed 11
state titles with two state runner-up finishes and one third-place showing
over the previous 14 seasons. In fact, Rochester
had already set a state record this season by becoming the first-ever Michigan school to
ever break the 800-points-barrier in an invitational this season.

All of that could not
save Rochester on this year‘s final day.

Third-ranked
Grandville collected a three-round score of 794.804 to edge out Rochester by
a slim margin, as the Falcons collected 792.304 to finish second in one of
the closest state finals in the 15-year history of the MHSAA-sanctioned
sport.

Second-ranked East Kentwood was third overall (782.428), while
Rochester Stoney Creek (769.844) and Hartland (768.128) followed in the
top-five of the 10-school field. Southgate Anderson was sixth (759.576),
while Troy Athens (726.00), Wyandotte Roosevelt (716.610), Sterling Heights
Stevenson (709.975) and Brighton (703.576)
rounded out the top 10.

Grandville held a 229.5 to 229.0 lead on Rochester after the first round and the two
had identical 248.804 scored in Round II, setting up the third round.
Grandville collected 316.500, East Kentwood 315.000 and Rochester 314.500 in the final round to
decide the title.

Both Rochester Stoney Creek and Troy Athens posted their best-ever finishes. Stoney Creek, a sixth-year school whose only other
finals appearances was in 2005 when the Cougars finished 10th, came into the
postseason ranked ninth. The Cougars edged Lake Orion,
then ranked fifth by two points to place second at the regional to qualify, then
leapt to fourth on the season’s final day.

Stoney Creek recorded totals of 219.0, 238.344
and 312.500.

Athens’
best finishes were seven in 1998 and eighth in 2004. The Red Hawks, who were
ninth last season, posted totals of 208.000, 219.600 and 299.000 to climb to
seventh.