Originally published March 9, 2008

Richmond places fifth in state

Times Herald

GRAND RAPIDS- The Richmond
competitive cheer team earned its best finish in the Michigan High School
Athletic Association cheer finals on Saturday, taking fifth place in the
Division 3 event.

Richmond had 708.660 points,
finishing in the middle of the 10-team field.

"They did
awesome," Richmond Coach Stephanie Cummings said. "They had so much
energy and the jumps were great."

Cummings said the team was strong in the first
routine, one the Blue Devils had been struggling with recently.

"The whole week
was such an experience," Cummings said. "We had a good season. It's
a nice Building block for next year."

Chippewa Hills ran
away to win the Division 3 title.

St. Clair finished
ninth Saturday in the Division 2 state tournament, collecting 698 points.

Carlson won the event
with 777 points. Allen Park
was second, while Dewitt was third.

The Saints also placed
ninth a year ago.

"We performed
well," Saints Coach Amanda Lipke said. "I
have a young team, so nerves got to them a little bit. We had a fall in round
three - that's an eight-point penalty - and it dropped us from seventh to
ninth.

"Overall, they
did a really good job."

The Saints, who lose
five seniors, have six freshmen and a sophomore on the squad.

Brown City placed ninth in
Division 4, with 635.584 points. Pewamo-Westphalia won the event with 730.056,
while Hudson
was second with 725.608.

The Green Devils had eight-point penalties in
the second and third rounds.