Lady
Pirates win state championship

By BRIAN DONALDSON

Sentinel-Standard sports writer

Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:32 PM CDT

State Champions: The Pewamo-Westphalia competitive cheer team
captured their seventh state championship this past week-end. They are
pictured above at a competition earlier this season. Sentinel-Standard
photos/BRIAN DONALDSON

PEWAMO - Pewamo-Westphalia Pirate competitive cheer team
coaches Staci Myers and Courtney Miller know what it's like to win state, but
now so do the girls they coach.

The team claimed the Division four team state championship
Saturday at the Deltaplex in Grand Rapids.

In doing so, the Pirates captured their seventh title. They won consecutive
titles from 1994 through 1997 and also claimed the 1999 and 2003
championship.

“It
was really awesome, Courtney and I were on the team when we won it in
‘99 and it was really exciting to see the girls react like we
did,” said Pirate coach Myers.

The Pirates scored a 219.5 in round one, a 221.056 in round two and took a
289.5 score in the third round for a winning total of 730.056. Hudson finished as the
runner-up with scores of 212, 213.608 and a 300 for a mark of 725.608.

The Lady Pirates feature just four seniors on the squad; Ariel Schafer, Erica
Fedewa, Olivia Schneider and Chelsea Bengal.

“It's a great closing to our senior year and we've
been working hard since our freshmen year. It's definitely what our main goal
was,” said team captain Bengal.

The Pirates will look to key underclassmen to carry on the programs rich
success.

“I think the legacy we built, a lot of girls just want to be a part of
it and it will drive the girls even more for next year to repeat,” said
Myers.

Bengal agreed.

“The feeling of winning is so amazing, and I think we will carry on the
tradition next season,” said Bengal.

Other team members include Jenessa Taylor, Amber Spitzley, Magen Zenk, Jennifer Fox, Alexandra Risher,
Renae Thelen, Stephany Keilen, Ashley Meyers,
Olivia Droste, Kristi Spitzley
and Lesley Schneider.