Cougars survive 'rough week'

Thursday,
December 16, 2004By Dean Holzwarth

The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND
RAPIDS --
Catholic Central competitive cheer coach Sarah Parker knew that her team was
already at a slight disadvantage entering last Saturday's first meet of the
season at Comstock
Park High
School.

Competing for the Cougars
were 10 newcomers, plus two girls were absent due to deaths in the family.

"It was a rough
week," Parker said after her squad placed third in Pool D at the
Competitive Cheer Coaches Scholarship Invitational.

"I had two girls who
couldn't be there because of deaths in their families and I had to put in two
new girls who were competing in their first competition."

The Cougars tallied a
three-round score of 537.5, but because of the absences they only completed a
small portion of their third-round cheer.

"I was impressed
with the girls because they stepped it up and were able to pull off what they
did," Parker said. "It was hard and intimidating for them. They
kept their heads up and did what they had to do and I was happy with our
score in round two."

Parker has 19 girls on
the team with nine returners and three seniors with
three years of varsity experience.

Julie DeWildt,
Carissa Dressander and
Erin Schramski have been on the varsity since they
were freshman, while Erin Krueger is the other senior.

Parker said the seniors
have taken the role of mentors with the underclassmen.

"They've stepped in
and taken the young girls under their wing," she said.

Although the younger
girls were thrown into action early, Parker hopes it helped them gain a
better understanding of what it takes to thrive at the highest level.

"It opened the door
for these girls and some of them got to compete that otherwise wouldn't have,"
Parker said. "I think being on the floor and competing helped
them."

© 2004 Grand Rapids Press.
Used with permission

Copyright 2004 Michigan Live. All
Rights Reserved.