Competitive
cheer district roundup: Win gives East Kentwood confidence

Cris Greer, The Grand Rapids Press, February 22, 2009

ROCKFORD -- East Kentwood
competitive cheer coach Stacy Sheler said this might be lucky No. 7.

After seven years of
coaching the Falcons, she thinks this is the team that could win the Division
1 state championship.

"Every year I think,
'Oh, this is the best team,' but this year there's a bond that I haven't seen
yet and a work ethic that I haven't seen on any of my teams," said
Sheler, after her Falcons won a Division 1 district championship Saturday at
Rockford. "You don't have to pry it out of them. They just come and
deliver every day."

"It's a great team
and I really think they can do it."

East Kentwood had a
combined score of 805.572 in what may be the toughest district in the state.

West Ottawa placed second
with 804.227, followed by Grandville (797.748) and Rockford (795.850). The
top four teams advanced to regionals Saturday in Brighton.

Rounding out placement
for the rest of the teams were Jenison, Hudsonville, Forest Hills, Battle
Creek Central, Portage Central, Grand Haven, Traverse City West, Kalamazoo
Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix and Muskegon.

"There are a lot of
good teams here," said Sheler, whose Falcons placed third at state last
year and were second to Grandville in 2004. "I felt like there were six
teams here that should have been able to go to regionals like Hudsonville and
Jenison are amazing teams. It's just unfortunate that we have such a good
district. They're going to be better than teams that we see at
regionals."

"We really came in
today wanting to have three good rounds. Today, everything just came
together. They just keep getting better and better every week."

"I came in confident
today, but winning wasn't our goal. Our goal was to get to regionals. I think
if they do their best we can be regional champs and I think we can be state
champs if we keep going."

East Kentwood senior
Lauren Trudell said the Falcons were prepared.

"We were
ready," Trudell said. "I think we can go all the way. If we stay
focused and work as hard as we are at practices, we'll come out on top."

West Ottawa coach
Kristine Brandt said she was glad her team lived up to its potential.

"They have a ton of
talent," said Brandt, whose Panthers were second in the state finals in
2001 and 2005. "I'm excited and very confident. I think we have the
ability to go through to the next round and get out of our region."

Rockford coach Kathy Jo
Resseguie was proud of her team.

"It's such an
awesome feeling," said Resseguie, who's team competed at the state
finals three times in her 15 years as coach. "We've had such a struggle
this season, so to have this reward of being able to go on was a great
victory."

DIVISION 2 AT GR
CHRISTIAN: Kenowa
Hills claimed a district crown by edging the host Eagles. The Knights posted
a three-round score of 761.066, while GR Christian closed with a 658.486. The
two teams will join Cedar Springs (740.967) and Sparta (732.202) at next
week's regional at Caledonia.

DIVISION 2 AT
MATTAWAN: No area
team finished among the top four. Byron Center (694.376) was sixth.

DIVISION 2 AT HASLETT: No area team finished among the
top four. Hastings (665.854) was eighth.

DIVISION 3 AT
COOPERSVILLE:
Comstock Park won a district title with a three-round score of 772.333.
Catholic Central (726.244) and Wyoming Park (697.140) also qualified for next
weekend's regional meet at Coopersville.

DIVISION 3 AT HOUGHTON
LAKE: No area team finished among the top four. Tri County (604.665) took
seventh.

"