Maroons Look to overtake Comstock Park at state final

Leo
Martonosi | March 4, 2009

Holland, MI —

The
Holland Christian competitive cheer team knows what the best of the
competition looks like before the Division 3 state finals this weekend.

Comstock Park is a favorite to win
the state championship Saturday at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids because of a highly
skilled second-round routine that racks up points.

The Maroons finished behind Comstock Park at last week’s
regional. Comstock Park is tough to beat,
Holland Christian co-head coach Darlene Draisma
said.

“The difference was Round 2. We had seven competitors and they had
16,” Draisma said after finishing runner-up
with a three-round total of 768.53 points. Comstock Park had 800.51 points.

The Division 3 meet starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It is the
last of four state meets during the day.

Division 1 begins at 9 a.m. It includes West Ottawa.

Tickets are $7 per session. There are two sessions — one features
Division 1 and Division 4, while the other features Division 2 and Division
3.

Comstock Park scored the highest of
any Division 3 team in regional competition. Richmond came in behind Comstock Park with 782.4984 points,
while Holland Christian had the third-highest regional score.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Remus Chippewa
Hills, Grosse Ille, Ovid Elsie and Clawson also are competing at
the Division 3 state finals.

“All the teams at state are very good,” Draisma
said.

The Maroons reached state despite not having a big roster.

“What the girls have achieved is pretty remarkable for a team of
16,” said  Peggy Lintemuth,
a volunteer assistant coach and mother of co-head coach Beth Lintemuth.

Holland Christian senior Brittani Slenk is looking
forward to competing at state after the Maroons did not qualify last year.

The Maroons won a Division 2 state title in 2007.

“I’m excited, but kind of sad too now that it’s almost
over,” said Slenk, who starts in all three
rounds. “We just want to perform up to the best of our ability.”

Four other seniors will join Slenk at state —
Sarah Ebels, Kelly Marsman,
Katelyn VerHage and Crista
Woods.

Holland Christian also counts on juniors Mariah Tamminga,
Amy Seinen and Carah Hoitenga, as well as sophomores Brielle DeFrell, Taylor Dosier, Jessica
Dozeman and Amber Prins.

Kailey VanDeBurg, Brinslea VanKampen, Olivia Edewaard and Kelsey Tucker are freshmen on Holland
Christian’s roster.

Slenk thinks highly of the Maroons’ coaching
staff.

“The coaches push us hard to better ourselves,” Slenk said. “They also know when to pull
back.”