Kenowa
Hills competitive cheer team captures district title

Steve Ungrey, The Grand Rapids Press, February 22, 2009

GRAND RAPIDS
-- The Kenowa Hills competitive cheer team had more than on reason to
celebrate following Saturday's Division 2 district tournament.

In the
post-meet ceremony, it was announced coach Brenda Looks had won the district
coach of the year honor.

More
importantly, her Knights won the overall meet, scoring 761.066 points to edge
Grand Rapids Christian (758.486) at the Quest Center. Cedar Springs (740.967)
and Sparta (732.201) also reached the regional tournament.

"I'm
definitely happier for the team but winning coach of the year at districts is
a nice honor," Looks said.

Division 2
regionals for these four teams take place Saturday at Caledonia, with the
winner and the three other top schools moving on to the March 7 state finals
at the DeltaPlex.

This is the
first year there has been a district round at the state-tournament level.

"There
are so many schools adding cheer that the sport is just growing," Looks
said. "This gives schools a chance to move on. And today we were very
happy with our scores. We had a little bobble in the third round but we're
happy overall."

Even though
Christian lost the championship by under three points, coach Jacquie DeJonge
is happy to advance to regionals and get another shot at Kenowa Hills.

"I'm
happy with our scores," DeJonge said. "I've been hearing from some
different people that a few schools we thought would move on had trouble
today. We didn't take it for granted that we'd move on, so it's nice to move
out of districts."

Kenowa Hills
is led by seniors Michelle Karas, Nicolette Looks, Brianna Novitsky, Laurel
Pennell, Stacy VanDriel and Casey Villo.

Christian's
seniors include Jacqueline Bos, Kate Bykerk, Jhenna Challah, Kate DeVoogd,
Kayla DeVries, Tamara Featherson, Carrie Hoogewind and Lauren Ondersma.

For Cedar
Springs, it was a happy occasion for coach Pam Ingles and her competitors,
none of whom were seniors. The Red Hawks consist of six juniors, six
sophomores and a freshman.

"Last
year we missed going to state by just a couple of points," Ingles said.
"So the girls have had that drive all season long to advance, so this is
definitely a good feeling to move on to the regional round."

Sparta coach
Kensey May fields a similar teams of youth, with only two seniors (Marianne
Brown and Valerie Tyron) in addition to four juniors, six sophomores and a
freshman.

"Last
year we didn't make it out of the regional but we went to state four years in
a row before that, so we're very happy to have the chance to move on to
regionals," May said.