Three area teams vying
for competitive cheer state titles

By Nate
Schneider

Saturday, March 7, 2009

The best of the best are
ready to be put to the test.

A total of 32 high school competitive cheer teams, eight in each division,
including defending Division 3 state champion Chippewa Hills are prepared
today to show what they are made of today as the state finals kick off at the
Delta Plex in Grand Rapids.

Two area teams in Mt. Pleasant and the returning state champ
Warriors have been mainstays at the state finals in recent years, while a
newcomer in the ranks is a young Ithaca team that will participate in
today's state finals for the first time in school history.

All three local teams have the same hope that every participating school has
at the competitive cheer state finals - hardware for the school trophy case.

To
bring home the state championship trophy, essentially what is needed is three
near-flawless routines that impress the judges and the desire to show the
judges that those rounds are state title-worthy.

For veteran-laden rosters such as state-ranked Mt. Pleasant and Chippewa Hills, one goal
talked about since the start of the season has been a potential state
championship. Ithaca, on the other hand, took more of
the one step at a time approach and in the end found itself in Grand Rapids today.

Division 2

Mt. Pleasant is no stranger at all to the pressures of the
Delta Plex and the state finals, having qualified
five of the past six seasons.

The Oilers finished fourth last year at the state finals and have an
experienced group of girls all working towards the same thing, according to
coach Kristi LaFleur.

"We have a senior-driven team that has continued to get better
throughout the year," LaFleur said. "They
have had (today) in mind all season and it is going to be a matter of just
going out there and giving it their best. It's going to come down to who has
the best performance and wants it the most."

Participating in 10 competitions this season including districts and regionals, the Oilers have come away winners in nine of
them.

In addition, Mt. Pleasant has stacked up this year against
all but one of the seven schools it will be competing against today.

"We've have a very good week of practice and we just had our best round
two of the season at regionals," LaFleur said. "I am very confident with where we are
as a team right now."

The Oilers begin the Division 2 portion of the state finals at 4:30
p.m.

Division 3

Being defending state champs, as Chippewa Hills is, puts a bit of a target on
the back but it is something first-year coach Krystle
Downs says her team is excited about.

"We are pumped and excited to defend our title," Downs said. "There are eight very
good teams at the state finals every year and we are happy to be one of
them."

Many of the Warriors have returned from last year's squad, leaving them an
experienced bunch but also one that is hungry for more success.

"Physically and mentally these girls know what to expect. The cheer
program at Chippewa Hills starts at a young age, so they know that it is all
about being fearless and having nothing to lose," said Downs.

Chippewa Hills has 10 wins this season out of 12 meets it has competed in,
showing its precise skill routinely in pulling off three solid rounds.

Downs, who took over for Jenna Ruddell and is a former Warrior cheerleader, has even
learned her fair share of things in her first year of coaching.

"I have learned tons of stuff, such as how incredible the sisterhood is
between the girls. It is different seeing it from a coaching
perspective," Downs said. "These girls have been so dedicated and hard-working.
They've kept on pushing all season."

The Division 3 competition starts at 7:30 p.m.

Division 4

Ithaca will make its first-ever state
finals appearance today at noon after a season that saw it win
eight of its 10 competitions, while finishing third in regionals
to qualify for the Delta Plex.

Backed by an incredibly young roster of six sophomores and one freshman, the Yellowjackets have showed great poise this season despite
their youthful status.

"This wasn't something we expected, but one of our goals was to finish
in the top four at regionals and earn a spot
here," fifth-year coach Jill Davenport said of making the state finals.

While winning the title will take a tremendous effort, being a part of the
event is something that Davenport and company will cherish for a
long time to come.

"These girls are ready for this level of competition and it should only
make us stronger in the future," Davenport said.

"We are trying to build something here and this year is hopefully the
start of many good years to come."