Bobcats win 'Cheer on Lake' trophy

January 29, 2009

'CHEER'
CHAMPS The Houghton Lake Bobcats placed first at
their annual Cheer on the Lake Invitational, held Saturday. They earned
a total of 692.1260 points. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Chelsie Roose, Molly Bigford, Alexis Bechill,
Danielle Ritchie, Rachael Priebe. (middle
row) Dominique Csapo, Randi Kaminski Libby
Whittington, (back row) Shyla Genslak, Miranda Gardner, Amanda Chenette, Ashley Klett
and Jenna Witfoth. (CHP)

After placing second for most of the 2008-09 season, the Houghton Lake Bobcats kept with tradition by
winning the Cheer on the Lake Invitational
at home Saturday.

In Round 1 Houghton Lake led Harrison, which has
placed first at several recent meets, by 3.8 points (212.8-209). The
Bobcat's Round 2 widened the lead to 8.338 (194.526-186.188). The subtotal
going into Round 3 was 407.3260, Houghton
Lake, to 395.1880, Harrison.

"We finally performed round three with excitement," varsity
Coach Celeste Kubiak said. "We've never
performed Round 3 that well this year. It should only get better from here
on out."

ROUND
THREE The Roscommon Bucks earned 205.5 points in Round 3 at Cheer on
the Lake, almost 12 points ahead of their closest
competitors, the Oscoda Owls. They had been leading Oscoda at the end
of Round 1, 150.2- 148.4, but Oscoda gained on them in Round 2 and
never let go of their edge. (CHP)

The Bobcats earned 284.8 points in Round 3 to the
Hornets' 287.5, but their earlier efforts kept them in the lead. The 'Cats
ended the meet with 692.1260 over Harrison's
682.688.

Rounding out Division 3 were Meridian
(623.7648), Cheboygan (534.6130), Oscoda (477.211), and Roscommon
(464.7498).

Merrill varsity placed first in Division 4 with 672.6856 points, and the
Gaylord Blue Devils (the only school competing in their division) earned
705.6016 points.

Houghton Lake
JV bested Harrison's
junior squad, 515.2408-510.8 in the JV Division. In the Middle School
Division, in which teams competed in Rounds 2 and 3 only, Farwell placed
first with 372.14 points.

At the Jan. 22 meet at Meridian,
the competition between Houghton Lake
and Harrison was much closer than at Cheer on the Lake.

"We were ahead of Harrison by five points
after Round 1," Coach Kubiak said. "We
received an 8-point penalty in Round 2 for a back handspring that didn't land
properly and that put us in a tie for first with Harrison."

Round three was not clean for either Harrison or Houghton
Lake, but Harrison
earned almost 20 more points for the round which gave them the win.

"Our round three has great potential," Kubiak
said. "We just haven't been able to nail it yet."

The Hornets ended the meet with 679.6 points, ahead of the Bobcats, who
earned a total of 660. Other teams competing were Meridian
(621.5) and Farwell (601.7).

The Bobcats compete next at Harrison's "Cheer
at the Hive" invitational Saturday.