COMPETITIVE
CHEER SCOUTING REPORTS

Compiled by Jon Schultz

Friday, December 12, 2008

DIVISION 1

Kalamazoo Central

Maroon Giants

Coach: Deveta Gardner (5th year).

Last year: Did not have a
competitive cheer team.

Returning letterwinner: Alena Smith
(Sr.).

Outlook: After sitting
last season out, the Maroon Giants are starting fresh -- very fresh. Of the
20 girls on the team, only one has cheered competitively. Tenacity,
endurance, stunting and willingness to learn are strengths they'll have to
rely on to make up for inexperience, Gardner said. ``I'm just looking forward
to the girls having a great time and getting a foundation and understanding
of what competitive cheer is all about,'' Gardner said.

Loy Norrix Knights

Coach: Tietricha Henderson (1st year).

Last year: Finished 15th
in regional.

Returning letterwinners: Ashley Davis (Sr.), Deshonda
Jones (Sr.), Jenna Fiore (So.), Allie Brewer (So.), Brianna Pseil (So.), Haley Pseil (So.).

Outlook: Henderson has brought excitement to
competitive cheer at Loy Norrix. Despite the Knights' second-to-last finish
in regional competition last year, Henderson said things should be looking up.
Stunting is Loy Norrix's strength, and clean
execution is its goal. ``I want them to be a clean team,'' Henderson said. ``I want people to look at
Loy Norrix and say, `This is a new Loy Norrix; this isn't the Loy Norrix that
we saw last year or in the past.'''

Portage Central Mustangs

Coach: Katie Brennan (6th
year).

Last year: Did not
compete in regional.

Returning letterwinners: Mary Vandervries
(Sr.), Dominique Mendham (So.), Shainna

Nelson (So.), Morgan Mclive (So.), Ellen Keesey
(So.).

Outlook: Brennan returns
to the team with hopes of bringing in more girls and rebuilding the program.
Their strength is their stunting. ``Our goal is to kind of get our reputation
back to where it used to be,'' Brennan said. ``Five or six years ago, we were
always conference champions.''

DIVISION 2

Gull Lake Blue Devils

Coach: Angie Brown (3rd
year).

Last year: Finished 3rd
in regionals.

Returning letterwinners: Maggie Klein (Sr.), Melissa Woodward
(Sr.), Jessica Crittenden (So.), Alyssa Kasten
(So.).

Outlook: Gull Lake has scrapped the JV team and now
has one big varsity group, which will allow Brown to put more numbers on the
floor. But the Blue Devils' inexperience working together will show in
stunting. ``It takes a while to get everybody in rhythm,'' said Brown, who
hopes to win the conference and make it to states. Her team's strong tumbling
will be crucial to meeting those goals. ``There's a strong gymnastics
background in a lot of the girls,'' Brown said.

Mattawan Wildcats

Coach: Nichole Cerutti (8th year).

Last year: Finished 4th
in regional.

Returning letterwinners: Sara Brown (Jr.), Hayley Cavanaugh (Sr.),
Lauren Disher (Jr.), Maddy
Ford (Sr.), Kayla Oswalt (Sr.), Mandy Terry (Jr.), Allaina Sheltrown (Sr.), Schyler Sheltrown (Jr.),
Bridgett Smith (Jr.), Brianna Tullis (So.), Kelly Tuls (So.), Dani Tysen (Jr.), Devyn Vincent
(Jr.), Cara West (Jr.), Samantha Young (Sr.).

Outlook: Four is the
magic number for the Wildcats. Mattawan hopes to earn its fourth straight
SMAC West title, and it has the cards stacked to make it happen.

Cerutti returns 15 cheerleaders, and will
try to harness their individualism to add strength to the team, she said. ``I
feel very confident that my team will have a lot of talent this year
tumbling-wise, stunting-wise and just overall cheering,'' Cerutti
said.

Plainwell Trojans

Coach: Sara Mejeur (5th year).

Last year: Finished 5th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Nikki Theodore (Sr.), Kayleyne
Babcock (Jr.), Kelsey Roessler (Jr.), Megan Andres
(So.), Jessica Areaux (So.), Stephanie Martin
(So.), Kylie Rush (So.).

Outlook: Half of the
Trojans are new to competitive cheer, but Mejeur
said they've already shown they can handle adversity. Injuries to the team's
strongest base and main tumbler/flier forced the team to pull together before
competition even started, she said. ``If they keep their focus and remember
what they are working for, their inexperience shouldn't factor in and they
will be champions,'' Mejeur said.

Portage Northern Huskies

Coach: Heather Prentice
(2nd year).

Last year: Finished 1st
at regional, 10th at state.

Returning letterwinners: Courtney Burland
(Sr.), Brittany Rowlson (Sr.), Stephanie Clark
(Sr.), Megan White (Sr.), Lauren Nolan (Jr.), Hannah Snyder (Jr.), Alexis
Ziegler (Jr.), Kayla Tillman (So.).

Outlook: The Huskies will
look for consistency after the flu bug hit them hard last season. Prentice
plans to perfect one routine and increase difficulty through the year.
``These kids are driven for excellence,'' Prentice said. ``We practice at 5
o'clock
in the morning. They come in, they don't complain, they work hard and they're
driven to get back to the state finals.''

Sturgis Trojans

Coach: Lacie Fisher (3rd year).

Last year: Finished 13th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Stephanie

Alldredge (Sr.), Carmi Smoker (Sr.),
Stephanie Armstrong (Jr.), Jaclyn Baker (Jr.), Rachelle Courtney (Jr.),
Angela Hernandez (Jr.), Heather Mitchell (Jr.), Leslie Reynolds (Jr.), Amanda
Shank (Jr.), Lakotah Spahr
(Jr.), Kelsey Meese (So.), Kayla Richardson (So.).

Outlook: Fisher has more
returning letterwinners than she has ever had
before, and after focusing on tumbling and gymnastics last

season, Sturgis will incorporate more
team tumbling skills. Round-three stunting looks to be their strength. ``We
have some very physically strong girls this year,'' Fisher said. ``And we
will be adding some unique flares and transitions to our stunts.''

Vicksburg Bulldogs

Coach: Stacy Childs (1st
year).

Last year: Finished 7th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Vanessa Piper (Sr.), Caroline Goodall (Jr.), Brandy Cullen (So.).

Outlook: Tumbling is the
main concern on this young Bulldogs squad, but Childs said someone new seems
to step up every day. ``We have a very young team this year, but this group
of young ladies is one of the hardest-working teams I've ever coached,'' she
said. ``They are determined to improve their position in the conference and
have the potential to do so.''

DIVISION 3

Allegan Tigers

Coach: Lisa Kent (1st
year).

Last year: Finished 5th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Tomi El (Jr.),
Becky Barber (Jr.), Kara Coonsare (Jr.), Samantha Lappine (So.), Molly Wagner (So.), Monica Roark (So.), Alli Siegler (So.).

Outlook: There is still a
lot Kent is learning about her team, but
one thing she's certain of is that they're talented gymnasts. She said their
potential gives her a lot to work with. ``Standing back tucks is a really big
thing in our round two, and I have four of them real close to doing them,''
Kent said. ``So I'm excited about that.''

Comstock Colts

Coach: Nicole Laster (1st year).

Last year: This is the
school's first competitive season.

Key newcomers: Katie Reilly
(Sr.), Kourtnie Nelson (Sr.), Ciera
Ruelas (Sr.), Stacie Thomas (Jr.), Kaylee Vorva (Jr.), DeAnna Sechman (Jr.), Jessica
Chastain (Jr.).

Outlook: While the Colts
are new to competitive cheer, they do have experience placing well in the
Universal Cheer Association, which is a cheer/dance hybrid club competition.
It will take some time to adjust to the MHSAA's
rules and regulations, but Laster said her
cheerleaders are strong-willed and ready to learn. ``They are the ones who
are going to set the standards for competitive cheer here at Comstock,'' she
said.

Delton Panthers

Coach: Zoe Reynolds (3rd
year).

Last year: Finished 10th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Mandy Dye (Sr.), Rachael Harris (Sr.),
Katie Robinson (Sr.), Cara Phelps (Jr.), Chana Gehrman (Jr.), Shalyn Vandegriff (Jr.), Sara Osborne (Jr.), Ryann Risner (Jr.).

Outlook: With eight girls
returning -- most of them with at least three years varsity experience -- the
Panthers' goal is to win the newly formed Southern Michigan Competitive Cheer
Conference. The squad looks to take advantage of its athleticism and
incorporate more gymnastics this year. ``I think overall it's just going to
push my team that we actually have a goal prior to winning state,'' Reynolds
said of the SMCCC. ``So we have something to work toward all the way though
the season.''

Otsego Bulldogs

Coach: Nicole Durr (4th year).

Last year: Finished 1st
at regional, 9th at state.

Returning letterwinners: Emily Stack (Sr.), Kaila Schmitt (Sr.),
Alex Watkins (Jr.), Jordan Reeber (Jr.), Rebekah Greene (Jr.), Ashley Markley (So.), Chelsi Hoisington (So.), Sarah Brennan (So.).

Outlook: With an
experienced returning core and talented newcomers, the Bulldogs see their
goals of repeating as Wolverine Conference champs and making a third straight
trip to the state finals very attainable. ``They are very strong in all
aspects -- jumps, gymnastics, stunting, floor presence,'' Durr
said. ``I have one of the most talented teams I have ever had in my 13 years
of coaching.''

Paw Paw Redskins

Coach: Tracey Derhammer (2nd year).

Last year: Finished 6th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Caitlin Flickinger
(Sr.), Katelynd Shanley
(Sr.), Katie Swinehart(Sr.), Megan Vandenberg (Sr.), Carli
Murav (Sr.), Rossi Fifelski
(Sr.).

Outlook: The team's
stunting has grown into a strength, and the Redskins
are hoping to add team handsprings to their arsenal this year. ``Last year
without handsprings, when we started a meet we were already behind all the
other teams because they have a higher difficulty,'' Derhammer
said. ``This will put us at a more level playing field and we won't be coming
in behind.''

Three Rivers Wildcats

Coach: Ashlie LeMieux (1st year).

Last year: Finished 6th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Amy Stover (Sr.), Lyndsey
Westfall (Sr.), Melissa Pokorny (Jr.), Chelsey Roberts (Jr.).

Outlook: The Wildcats
have a new coach and have moved back down to Division 3, where LeMieux said she thinks her small team will do well. Not much
will change from last season, LeMieux said, but the
team has shrunk a little. ``There are some very strong girls who have
gymnastics (backgrounds),'' she said. ``However, as a team, we would like to
put team back tucks back in the picture eventually in round two.''

DIVISION 4

Bangor Vikings

Coach: Kara Jackson (1st
year).

Last year: This is the
school's first competitive season.

Key newcomers: Diana McCrumb (Fr.), Kelli Taylor (Fr.), Kaitlyn
Szczypka (Fr.).

Outlook: The Vikings kick
off their competitive cheer inaugural season with five freshmen, one senior,
one junior and one sophomore. Expectations are low, and Jackson said she simply hopes to finish
the entire season with enough cheerleaders on the squad. ``This year will be
our trial year,'' she said. ``But I believe we will be stronger in the
future.''

Bloomingdale Cardinals

Coaches: Shannon Butler
(5th year).

Last year: Finished 2nd
at regional, 10th at state.

Returning letterwinners: Harley Cochran (Jr.), Paige Lott (Jr.), Alissa Phelps (Jr.), Nicole Beam
(Jr.).

Outlook: More than half
of last year's team has graduated, but the Cardinals are still deadset on another state finals appearance. Butler said she believes her team will
be especially competitive in round three. ``The lack of experience on the mat
may hinder us at the start of the season,'' she said. ``And that is a
challenge that we as a team have to overcome and learn from each
competition.''

Bronson Vikings

Coach: Charissa Bailey (2nd year).

Last year: Finished 13th
in regional.

Returning letterwinners: Ashley Meyer (Sr.), Breana
Miller (Sr.), Lucy Cardenas (Jr.), Victoria Draper (Jr.), Britney Martin
(Jr.), Ariana Yoder (So.).

Outlook: After returning
to competitive cheer last season, the Vikings are just determined to build on
what they've started. Bailey said she is most impressed with her team's
precision. ``They're very focused on what they're doing,'' she said. ``It's
already 10 times better than it was just because they weren't used to that
(last season).''

Climax-Scotts Panthers

Coach: Jennifer Bingaman
(4th year).

Last year: Finished 5th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Jammie Woods
(Jr.), Jordyn Peet (Jr.),
Magan Scully (Sr.), Rhandi
Philo (Sr.), Kaysee Heimstra (Jr.).

Outlook: The Panthers
hope to grab judges' attention through their nontraditional material and
delivery, and ultimately hope to make it to the state finals. ``I think we're
unique; we aren't your cookie-cutter style, I guess. We stand out a little
bit,'' Bingaman said. ``Just our style, the way we present our material on
the mat, our words, our pace is different.''

Colon Magi

Coach: Jayne Sabaitis (5th year).

Last year: Finished 1st
at regional, 3rd at state.

Returning letterwinners: Rachel Green (Sr.), Chante
Harris (Sr.), Danielle Walkup (Sr.), Kayla Boals
(Jr.), Alyssa Stoll (Jr.), Paige Thornton (Jr.), Kaitlynn
Treadway (So.), Mary Grace Decker (So.), Alisha Lietzke (So.).

Outlook: Sabaitis isn't dodging the issue. She knows exactly where
she expects to be at the end of the season. ``Our goal is to win it all,''
she said. The Magi return all but one of their cheerleaders from last
season's third-place state-finals team, and they're amping
up the difficulty. ``The skills that we do now are much more difficult than
what we used to do,'' Sabaitis said. ``We're
actually looking for the first time this year to throw back tucks as a
round-two skill ... and that's one of the hardest skills that you can do.''

Gobles Tigers

Coach: Melissa Ross (2nd
year).

Last year: Finished 3rd
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Hailee Burke
(Jr.), Val Tyran (Jr.), Lauren Duchesneau
(So.).

Outlook: With few
returning girls and no seniors, the younger members of the team will need to
quickly adjust to varsity-level competition in order to have another run at regionals. ``I am relying a lot on the girls that are
returning to just push the girls and ... encourage them, show them what the
expectations are,'' Ross said.

Hartford Indians

Coach: Jenny Phillips
(2nd year).

Last year: Finished 8th
in regionals.

Returning letterwinners: Chelsey Lynch
(So.), Brittany Emery (Jr.).

Outlook: Last season the
Indians dipped their toes into competitive cheer for the first time, and now
Phillips said she hopes they can jump into it. ``It's up to them,'' she said.
``How much do they want to focus, and how much do they want it?'' The ``it''
means doing well in districts, which she said is her team's goal.

Martin Clippers

Coach: Erin Hiemstra (3rd year).

Last year: Did not compete
in regional.

Returning letterwinners: Fawn Metsa
(Sr.), Erica LaFountain (So.), Amanda Alecia (Sr.), Ashley Sutherland
(Sr.).

Outlook: The Clippers
have their most experienced team in three years of competing, and are longing
to raise their first trophy with a meet victory. They'll need to improve
tumbling and precision, but they can count on solid stunting, Hiemstra said. ``They're really strong stunters and we have really good jumps,'' he said. ``The
team jumps well together.''

Schoolcraft Eagles

Coach: Stephanie
Harrison-Willis (3rd year).

Last year: Finished 4th
at regional.

Returning letterwinners: Kassie Meyers
(Jr.), Allison Hufford (Jr.), Katilee
Bensley (So.), Amber Pearce (So.), Christine
Edwards (So.), Andrea Vanlopik (So.).

Outlook: With two bases
graduated, the Eagles are rebuilding their stunt group, but their strength is
their athleticism. They have back hand springs and team back walkovers dialed
in, and are ``pushing for triple splits.'' ``Our goals heading into the
season are to start a new tradition here in a new cheer league,''
Harrison-Willis said of the SMCCC. ``We'd like to win and also qualify for regionals.''

White Pigeon Chiefs

Coach: Jacqui Roberts
(2nd year).

Last year: Did not
compete.

Returning letterwinners: Liz Pretty (Sr.), Sha
Moore (Sr.), Brittany Lowe (Sr.).

Outlook: After taking a
two-year hiatus from competitive cheer, the Chiefs return to take on the
challenge of creating a solid foundation for the future. ``We are realistic
and optimistic,'' Roberts said. To keep up with competition this season, the
Chiefs will need to improve vocals and finish as strong as they start in
their routines.