Comstock Park eyes first
competitive cheer title

Dean
Holzwarth | The Grand
Rapids Press, March 5, 2009

In all but one week this season,
the Comstock Park competitive cheer team has been
perched atop the Division 3 state rankings.

The Panthers hope to stay firmly there after Saturday night's Michigan High
School Athletic Association state finals at The DeltaPlex.

Comstock Park is the clear-cut favorite in
Division 3, and if it can equal its performance from regionals,
the program's first state championship will be solidified.

"I think we're more ready than we've ever been," Panthers senior Brittni May said. "We've
worked hard all season and I don't think there will be much pressure."

The Panthers surpassed the 800-point plateau at Coopersville on Saturday en
route to a regional championship. They tallied season-high scores in each of
their three rounds and finished with a total of 800.510.

"They took my breath away on Saturday -- it was so awesome," Comstock Park coach Kathy Felty
said. "It was a big day for us and it was the first time all year that
we've had three solid and strong rounds. To score what we did on Saturday was
pretty darn awesome."

Comstock Park has been on the brink of a state
title the past two years. The Panthers placed fourth in 2007, and last season
finished runner-up to Chippewa Hills.

May said she believes her team's regional effort will carry over to the state
finals.

"I think it gave us a lot of confidence because it was the best we've
ever done," May said. "We want to do our best and win a state
championship, and we couldn't be more prepared going into this weekend."

The Panthers, who have 16 cheerleaders who do back-tucks, lost only three
seniors from last season's state runner-up team. The returning experience has
served them well.

"We knew we would have a strong returning team, and they knew they could
be better than last year with hard work and determination," Felty said. "Our goal is to do the best we possibly
can. We're going to give everyone a run for their money for a state title,
and we're not going to give it away."

The Panthers will be one of three local teams competing in Division 3, along
with Holland Christian and Catholic Central.

Competitive cheer state finals

·
When: Saturday--Division 1 (9 a.m.), Division 4 (noon), Division 2 (4:30
p.m.),
Division 3 (7:30 p.m.)

·
Where: The DeltaPlex

·
Local teams: Division 1--East Kentwood, Grandville, West Ottawa;
Division 2--Grand Rapids Christian, Kenowa Hills; Division 3--Catholic
Central, Comstock Park, Holland Christian