Sunday,
February 6, 2005

Breckenridge remains focused on its goal

By DREW
ELLIS

Sun Sports Writer

Title after title under its belt, the
Breckenridge cheer team may find its toughest competition to be itself.

With four of the last five Class C/D state titles in their
possession, the No. 1 ranked Huskie cheer team hasn't
lost the desire to keep winning, and looks to be on track for their fifth
title, after winning the Mt. Pleasant Cheer Invite Saturday.

"I don't know if there is one reason as to why we perform
so well year after year,“ Huskie
coach Deb Gaines said of her team's yearly success. "The girls just focus
and work hard every year. They just do it.“

Breckenridge scored a 721 to take the overall title, with scores
of 195.5 in round one, 211 in round two, and 314.5 in round three.

"It was a nearly flawless day for us,“
Gaines said. "We had one small mistake in the second round, but that just
gives us something to work on. Otherwise, we had a great day.“

After winning four state titles, Gaines knows it is important to
have different goals each year for her kids, to make sure they stay hungry each
season.

"They set their own goals,“
Gaines said of her team. "I let them set the goals that they shoot for
every year. You need to give them something new to go after or else they may
lose that drive that you need in a team. I find that if they set their own
goals, it makes it more satisfying for them in the end.“

While the Huskies won the Class B/C/D competition as well,
Grandville won the Class A group with 719 points, while Mason was second with
695, and Mt. Pleasant was third with 693.5

The Oilers were solid in the first two
rounds, scoring a 195 and 214 respectively, but faltered in round three with a
284.5.

"We are really pleased with rounds one and two,“ Oiler coach Kristi LaFleur
said. "It was the highest point total we have had for those two rounds all
season. Usually round three is our strong point, but today we had two major
mistakes that cost us.“

Coming off two-straight state final appearances, the Oilers are now looking to climb up to the ranks of a team
like Grandville, who is the defending Class A state champion, and currently
ranked No. 2 in the state.

"We were right there with them after the first few rounds,“ LaFleur said of her team
compared to Grandville. "It is going to come down to who performs better
at regionals, and if we put all three rounds together, we can be as good as
anyone.“

While the Oilers look to improve on
Saturday's performance, the Huskies are focused in on the final month of
another draining season.