Eagles finish second in first cheer performance

Thursday,
January 13, 2005By Dean Holzwarth

The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Rapids Christian
competitive cheer coach Jacquie DeJonge knew she
had a youthful squad this season.

But DeJonge
found out just how unproven they were before last week's first competition at
Central Montcalm.

"A lot of them were
very nervous and asking me questions," DeJonge
said. "I found out that seven girls had never attended a competition
before so that's when I knew how young and inexperienced we really
were."

The Eagles' debut
performance resulted in a runner-up finish to Mount Pleasant in Division 1A. They
accumulated a three-round score of 603.

"It wasn't the
greatest total, but it was better than we had last year in our first meet so
I was pleased with that," DeJonge said.
"They are the hardest-working group that I've had in a long time."

Christian's squad
features only four seniors with six juniors, five sophomores and five
freshmen.

Seniors Annie Stapert, Erin Sundberg and Katy
Witteveen are captains along with junior Gina VanderVeen. Lenee Brooks is the
only other senior.

"Over half my team
is underclassmen, but they're a great team gymnastically and they're further
along than last year," DeJonge said.

Christian's gymnastics
coach, Randy Owens, told DeJonge that he feels
their skills have already approached the level of last year.

"He thinks that
right now our skill level is where it was at at the
end of last season so we are continuing to make progress," DeJonge said.

Although the Eagles don't
have a junior varsity squad this season, they do have an eighth-grade
competitive team for the first time.

The Eagles competed at
Allendale on Wednesday and are slated to take part in the Panther
Invitational at Comstock
Park on Monday.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used
with permission

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