Devils hope to reach goal at finals

By Jason Alexander

March6, 2009

At the first preseason
meeting, the Richmond competitive cheerleading team set
a goal to win a state championship.

On Saturday, the squad
will get its chance.

The Blue Devils will
compete in the Division 3 state finals at 7:30 p.m. at the Delta Plex
in Grand Rapids.

"We have been
preparing for this day for so long," senior captain Kaitlyn
Bishop said. "We have an awesome team, and everyone is going to be there
for each other."

Richmond won its regional at Goodrich last
weekend, and also won districts and the Blue Water Area Conference title.

The Blue Devils will be
making their third straight appearance in the state finals. They took fifth
last season.

This year, however, Richmond has had a new mentor as Kelli Matthes took the coaching job during the summer.

Matthes has 19 years of coaching
experience and won a state title with L'Anse Creuse North in 2006.

She has quickly grown
close with the Blue Devils.

"It has been an
incredible year," Matthes said. "This
group of kids has been the best all the way around -- in attitude, in work
ethic. Everything about them has been incredible."

Richmond will compete third in the first
round, second in the second round and first in the third round Saturday.

Jitters shouldn't be too
much of a problem as the team has already competed at Delta Plex this season.

There, Matthes had the team soak it in for a possible return
trip.

"Each practice, we
have visualized it," senior captain Melissa Hunter said. "I usually
get really nervous before round three, but I haven't been this year, so it
has helped. I'm usually terrified; we'll see Saturday if it has really
worked."

Richmond has been ranked No. 2 most of the
year, while Comstock Park has been No. 1.

"Our goal is
obviously to get first," Hunter said. "We will be disappointed if
we don't, but we've had an amazing season, and we will be proud of ourselves
no matter what."