Prep: Never mind motives, Rochester
wins title

By Keith Dunlap

Sunday, March 8, 2009

A popular theory entering
the Division 1 state competitive cheerleading finals on Saturday was that Rochester had revenge fully on its mind.

The Falcons saw their string of three straight state titles end at last
year’s state finals when Grandville won the championship in what was a
controversial ruling by the judges in the minds of some.

However, Rochester head coach Susan Wood insists
payback wasn’t the motive going into Saturday’s competition in Grand Rapids.

“Surprisingly not,” Wood said. “That’s the story that
people want to tell. We don’t look back. We treat every year like a
brand new year. Whether we won or not the previous year, we work hard either
way.”

Once
again, Rochester’s tireless work paid off, as the Falcons once again
are state champions after earning a high score of 811.2480 in the eight-team
field.

Grandville was second with 806.0352. Stoney Creek took sixth with 787.3672 points,
while Lake Orion finished eighth at 783.6872.

It was the 12th state title since 1994 for the machine that is the Rochester cheer program, and perhaps the
most gratifying given the caliber of the field Wood saw.

“It was the best eight teams we’ve seen at a state
championship,” Wood said. “There were several teams there that
could’ve won it. “In the past, only a select few could’ve
won it.”

Now, Rochester will enjoy some well-deserved time off before gearing up
for next season. The Falcons lose 12 seniors off of their team, which Wood
said was a normal amount in a given year.

“This has made us so we excited that we want to come back and do it
over again,” Wood said.

Division 1 cheer finals agate

1. Rochester 811.2480; 2. Grandville 806.0352; 3. East Kentwood 802.6544; 4. Sterling Heights Stevenson 797.2376; 5. Southgate Anderson 788.7856; 6. Stoney Creek 787.3672; 7. Holland West Ottawa 784.6304; 8. Lake Orion 783.6872