Comstock Park wins Division 3
competitive cheer title

Cris Greer | The
Grand Rapids Press, March 7, 2009

GRAND
RAPIDS -- It was the perfect finish to a perfect season for the Comstock Park competitive cheer team.

The Panthers captured
their first-ever Division 3 state championship with a score of 781.1808
Saturday at the DeltaPlex.

"Coming here for our
15th win was exactly what we wanted to happen today," said Comstock Park coach Kathy Felty,
whose team was undefeated this season.

"We came here today
knowing we had a good chance at a state title with 14 wins. The girls
delivered. It was amazing.

"They just blow our
breath away. Every challenge they've had, they stepped up."

Sitting in third place
after Round 1, the Panthers took charge in Round 2 with a dominant 244.3808,
about 12 points better than Grosse Ile.

They notched it up again
in Round 3 with a winning score of 312.1000.

"I think nerves got
us a bit in Round 1, but I think they came out and did what they had to do in
rounds 2 and 3," said Felty, who finished
second place at state finals last year. "They came and nailed it."

Senior Brittni May said it was her
team's goal all through high school to win a state championship.

"It feels
awesome," May said. "I'm a senior and I get to walk out a state
champion. We're the first team at Comstock Park to ever win a state
championship."

Grosse Ile placed second,
followed by Richmond, Chippewa Hills, Holland
Christian, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Clawson.

Division 2

Kenowa Hills competitive
cheer coach Brenda Looks and senior captain Casey Viilo
said the team is on an upward journey in the state.

The Knights completed
another big step in that journey with a third-place finish in the Division 2
state finals Saturday at the DeltaPlex.

Kenowa Hills scored a
total of 778.0936 points (221.9000, 239.2936 and 316.9000). Gibraltar Carlson
won the state championship with 807.1184 points, followed by Mount Pleasant, Kenowa Hills, Allen Park, Ortonville Brandon, Dearborn
Divine Child, Grand Rapids Christian and Mason.

"They were just a
phenomenal team this year," said Looks, whose Knights placed sixth last
year. "They've worked really hard and broke two records today in Round 3
and our overall score. We're really happy. They were amazing.

"We knew we were up
against some very good teams so were hoping to finish in the top five and we
did."

Looks said they upped the
ante this season.

"This year we tried
making everything a little bit more difficult and it paid off," said
Looks, in her fourth year. "We are very happy."

Viilo said it has been a great, long
journey.

"Our team pulled it
together and finally stepped up and proved who we are," Viilo said. "It was amazing. If everyone sticks
together, we can eventually get first. There's no doubt about it."

Looks agreed.

"We have a lot of
girls coming back next year and we'll shoot for first," Looks said.
"Hopefully, maybe in the next year or two. We'll continue to up our
level and ability. We're getting there."

Grand Rapids Christian
coach Jacquie DeJonge was pleased with her team's
second trip to the state finals and likes what the future holds.

"We're really happy
that we're here and one of the top eight teams," said DeJonge, whose Eagles placed seventh with 758.4272
points.