Michigan
Center wins competitive cheer meet with record

Citizen Patriot staff, January 31, 2009

It was about as close as
a competitive cheer meet could be.

And about as momentous as could be for Michigan Center High School.

The host team won the Division 4 competition in the Cardinal Invitational on
Saturday, setting a school record and edging the state's top-ranked team in
the process.

Michigan Center totaled 795.878, the highest score in the program's history.
And the Cardinals needed every bit of it, as No. 1-ranked Hudson scored
795.602. Third-ranked Colon was third some 80 points behind.

Michigan Center was rated second in the latest rankings by cheer coaches and
officials.

The Cardinals took a five-point lead after the second round and then hung on
in the third round to repeat as champions of their meet.

It was the final home meet for Michigan Center seniors Kelsey Pollard,
Bethany Burzynski, Rachel Miller, Hannah Stark, Jordan Petersen and Lauryn
Silva.

Columbia Central won the five-team Division 2-3 meet with a score of
727.1572. The Golden Eagles posted the highest score in each of the three
rounds to rack up their highest total of the season and easily outdistance
second-place Adrian.

"I was very impressed with my girls, especially in round two,"
Columbia Central coach Jennifer VanWagnen said. "They showed remarkable
athleticism and a true dedication to success."