Allen Park cheer team jumps at another shot for
state title

BY PERRY A. FARRELL • FREE
PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 3, 2008

Julie Goodwin and her Allen
Park competitive cheer team knew they were working
hard. And when the team started working out in the high school gym, others
were introduced to that hard work.

"The other teams would come by and see what we were doing, and I
think it was a combination of that and the discipline the girls have
shown," Goodwin said.

Her program was Class A finalists in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. In
2007, the team was regional champs and finished third at states. This year, Allen Park won regionals and finished runner-up at the state meet by
1.37 points.

Goodwin received coach of the year honors, and the tone has been set
for the upcoming season.

"It is 3-2-1," said senior-to-be Erica Roberts. "We
finished third at states; last year, we finished second, and now we want to
be first."

It is a sport

If you want to start a fight with the team, just say competitive cheer
isn't a sport.

"We have more injuries than any other sport," said Ellen Trudell, who is headed to Central Michigan
University this fall.
"We work just as hard as any team. We basically compete and work out
year-round.

"I get really offended when people say things like that. It's a
lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but I would do it all over again."

Tryouts and unofficial training for next season have already begun.

Goodwin's oldest daughter, Kelcey, cheered
for her when she was in high school, and her youngest, Kayla, is a pitcher on
the softball team.

"When I took over the competitive cheer program seven years ago,
we started with approximately 14 to 16 athletes at the varsity level,"
said Goodwin, who has coached at Allen
Park for 10 years. "Now we have competitive
cheer starting at the middle school level all the way through varsity."

The program has between 60 and 70 athletes.

Goodwin said her team has worked tirelessly to earn the respect it
deserves as athletes

"My athletes are very committed to their sport," Goodwin
said. "They have an awesome work ethic that includes conditioning;
gymnastics -- John Blacha, one of the top gymnastic
instructors in the state, works with us -- cheerleading camps, and
motivational tools. They know with hard work and discipline, there is
gratification."

Life lessons

Goodwin said personal and team goals are set each season, but her own
goal is to use competitive cheer to teach life lessons to her athletes.

"I try to teach them that the habits they form now can be assets
to them in school and later on in life: dedication, strong work ethics,
goals, learning from mistakes, not regretting them and, the most important,
self-respect," Goodwin said.

She said the support system at Allen
Park has been crucial to the development of the
cheer program.

"The parents involved in the program are a huge part of our
success," Goodwin said. "I have an outstanding athletic director
who supports us 100%. My support staff consists of alumni cheerleaders that
have come through the program: Jessica Tremonti, Kelcey Goodwin, Ashley Hartman and Lindsay Loichinger. This allows us to keep consistency from the
younger levels up."

The competitive season is from November until March. Tryouts are in
May for sideline football. Participants work out all year.

"We're very bonded as a team when we're together," said
Roberts. "We know that we have to put in the work in order to get where
we want. I think this past year was one of our most successful because we won
league, which we hadn't done in a long time, and we won regionals
for the second year in a row, and we came in second at states.

"The seniors on the team need to make sure we stay bonded and all
working toward the same goal so it will all pay off. I do feel part of
something special."

Teammate Lindsay Nelson, who will be a senior, agreed.

"I absolutely love it," Nelson said of competitive cheer.
"I love how we've all become best friends. Everything is exactly the
same every year, so by senior year, you're so used to everything and it is so
much fun."

Team photos

Allen Park's competitive cheer team demonstrates precision in
the herkie jump. "They have an awesome work
ethic that includes conditioning, gymnastics ... cheerleading camps and
motivational tools," said coach Julie Goodwin.

Allen Park celebrates winning its Division 2 regional March
1. The team went on to finish runners-up at the state tournament.

The
team breaks into stunt groups at the PR Cheer Tournament in Grand Rapids in February.

Coach
speak

Allen Park High School competitive cheer coach Julie Goodwin on some of
her athletes:

Ellen Trudell: "Ellen was a very good leader on my team. She
was the most talented kid gymnastics-wise, but she had a very strong work
ethic, and she achieved the skills she needed to get in order to be on the
floor. She's very motivating and very positive."

Erica Roberts: "Is one of my seniors this year. She's a very quiet kid but very
motivated, sets an excellent example for the younger girls and has a strong
work ethic."

Lindsay Nelson: "She's one of my seniors this year. Lindsay is kind of my little
clown on the team, but she's very talented, motivating and hardworking. She
is very focused when we go to compete but in a very
happy way, not a nervous way. She keeps the others focused. She's good to my
younger girls."

Meghan Terry: "She was one of the freshmen on the team. She's an extremely
talented gymnast. Her work ethic is unbelievable for her age. She made the
team last year, and she was only 14. She competed in all three rounds of the
states."