Lewis
wants Cedar Springs cheer squad to soar

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

By Jeff
Chaney

The Grand Rapids Press

Jessica
Lewis and the Cedar Springs High School competitive cheer team have mixed
emotions over last season.

The Red Hawks qualified for regionals but finished
just a couple of points shy of advancing to the state finals.

"We were excited to make it as far as we made it and do as well as we
did," said Lewis, a junior. "But it was disappointing that we
didn't make it to state, especially for our seniors last year."

"We have used it as motivation," she said. "We really want to
make it to state to prove that we can make it. The program is close, and we
have the drive to do it."

She may be right.

The team has other experienced athletes returning, including juniors Dakotah Dombak and Sam Kinney
and sophomore Brittani Tozer.

Junior Ashley Bout, sophomore Ally Byrnes and freshman Heather Howard are
talented newcomers.

"I have 13 girls on my varsity team, and 10 of the are
returning from last year," Cedar Springs coach Pan Ingles said.
"Our team is smaller than it has been in the past, and I don't have any
seniors this year. However, I truly believe our skill level that the girls
are showing is an improvement, and it will be interesting to see how we
continue to score over the season."

The Red Hawks will compete in the tough O-K Blue Conference, with such teams
as state runner-up Comstock Park and Sparta.

"I'm hoping that we can finish in the top one or two by the end of the
season," Ingles said. "We will have to have three good rounds to
contend with Comstock Park. We beat them last year at our
conference finals meet, so the returning girls know they are beatable."

Cedar Springs got off to a good start with a win at the Comstock Park
Invitational in Division 2 competition. The Red Hawks beat Lowell, Grand Rapids Christian and Byron Center in their division.

"Our team worked well together as a whole," Lewis said. "That
is one of our strengths -- we are a close team."

Cedar Springs

·
Coach: Pam Ingles, third year

·
Conference: O-K Blue

·
2007-08: Second in O-K Blue, third at regionals

·
Top returners: Juniors Dakotah Dombak, Sam Kinney and Jessica Lewis (each all-conference)
and sophomores Brittani Tozer and Heather Mindler

·
Newcomers: Junior Ashley Bout and sophomore Ally Byrnes

·
Outlook: Of the 13 athletes on the team, 10 are returners, so the Red
Hawks should be competitive in the league and postseason. The squad is young,
with no seniors.

·
Coach's comment: "They already have the drive and determination
to work harder than they did last year to try and make it to the state
finals. I have already seen the dedication at practice for the last couple of
weeks."

·
Key date: Jan. 10, Cedar Springs Invitational