Tickets
punched: Rochester, Stoney Creek earn
pass to state cheer finals

BY DAN
STICKRADT

ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER

March 3, 2009

Rochester High celebrated its 14th straight competitive
cheer regional crown Saturday at Wayne Memorial as the Falcons posted the
highest regional score in the state.

Rochester has grown accustomed to winning.
But even this year the Falcons have surprised even their coach.

Rochester, the top-ranked school in the
Division 1 competitive cheer state rankings all season, will enter the final
weekend of the season unbeaten.

Rochester won its 14th
straight regional crown and 19th in 20 years Saturday at Wayne Memorial High
School to advance to the MHSAA state finals once again.

Rochester claimed 806.9608 points, tops in
the state at any regional, to advance to the state finals. Combining the
state finals hosted by the MHSAA, which began in 1994, and the now-defunct
Michigan Cheerleading Coaches Association tournament, the Falcons have made
the state meet every year dating back to 1983.

“We had a great
day on Saturday,” smiled Rochester coach Susan Wood, the
Falcons’ head coach since 1982. “I felt that even though we have
been winning, we haven’t peaked yet. We were always off in one of our
rounds. Now, I feel that we put together our best day so far at the regional.
I’m hoping this will give us some confidence going into the state
finals.”

Rochester, which has not lost since finishing
second at last year’s D-1 state finals, was challenged by league rival
Rochester Stoney Creek (798.3456) at the regional. Southgate Anderson
(783.4760) and Sterling Heights Stevenson (779.2592) followed suit and will
join the Falcons at the state finals March 7 at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids.

The top four teams in
each region in each of the state’s four divisions,
advance to the state finals. There are two regions of 12 schools apiece in
each division.

The state finals will
consist of eight schools per division.

Troy (776.2432) was fifth at the
regional and the first team left on the outside looking in, followed by Utica
Eisenhower (775.3528) in sixth. Utica Ford (749.5992), Livonia Franklin
(724.7412), Warren Cousino (716.2000), Macomb Dakota (714.9488) and Westland
John Glenn (692.7282) rounded out the regional team scores.

“We are excited,” said Wood. “But with a
different set of judges, our scores at the regional don’t mean that
much. We have to perform well (at the state meet).”

Stoney Creek will be making its third state final appearance in
its short seven-year history. The Cougars were fourth at the D-1 state meet
last season, a school best, but have been plagued by inconsistency this
season.

Stoney Creek still had the third-best regional score in D-1,
trailing Rochester and Grandville, the two schools
which have won every Class A/Division 1 state crown since the MHSAA started
its own state tournament 15 years ago.

Still, first-year Stoney Creek head coach Casey Case believes
her team, which has amassed 800 points in a meet this season, will be a
threat to dominant powers Rochester, Grandville and east Kentwood.

“We came close to Rochester earlier this season, by only a
couple of points,” she said. “And we beat Grandville already. I
think we finally put it together at the regional. We’re going up there
to try to win it. Why not?”

At the regional, Rochester put together rounds of 232.7,
252.7608 and 321.5. Stoney Creek posted scores of 231.4, 249.0456 and 317.9.

Troy, the only other Eccentric-area
school to make it to the regional round, finished with rounds of 226.8,
243.5432 and 305.9.(2 of 2)

“We are excited,” said Wood. “But with a different set
of judges, our scores at the regional don’t mean that much. We have to
perform well (at the state meet).”

Stoney Creek will be making its third state final appearance in its
short seven-year history. The Cougars were fourth at the D-1 state meet last
season, a school best, but have been plagued by inconsistency this season.

Stoney Creek still had the third-best regional score in D-1, trailing
Rochester and Grandville, the two schools which have won every Class
A/Division 1 state crown since the MHSAA started its own state tournament 15
years ago.

Still, first-year Stoney Creek head coach Casey Case believes her team,
which has amassed 800 points in a meet this season, will be a threat to
dominant powers Rochester, Grandville and east Kentwood.

“We came close to Rochester earlier this season, by only a couple
of points,” she said. “And we beat Grandville already. I think we
finally put it together at the regional. We’re going up there to try to
win it. Why not?”

At the regional, Rochester put together rounds of 232.7, 252.7608 and
321.5. Stoney Creek posted scores of 231.4, 249.0456 and 317.9.

Troy, the only other Eccentric-area school to make it to the regional
round, finished with rounds of 226.8, 243.5432 and 305.9.