Thursday, February 10, 2005

Main News

Berkley cheerleaders excel

Kris Kelly

"One
team, one dream," chanted the Berkley
High School junior
varsity cheer team last weekend.

They were
one of 65 teams with the same dream - - to win the 2005 Oakland Athletic
Association (OAA) League Cheerleading Competition.

"The
OAA League competition is held every year to determine who's
the best," said Berkley Varsity Cheer Coach Sarah Bubb.

An
estimated 1,300 people came to Berkley
High School last
Saturday to watch 600 cheerleaders compete in this day-long event. It's set
up in three divisions, based on the skill level and past success of the
teams. Division I is competitive cheer for the most highly-skilled groups.
Teams in Division II have a lower skill level, but are still sanctioned by
the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Division III is for
"Sideline," a different style of cheering that includes music but
is not sanctioned by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Schools
may compete in only one of the three divisions.

Teams in
the first two divisions must compete in three distinctly different rounds.

"The
first round is a floor routine," said Bubb.
"The second round is a precision round and it is designed to evaluate
how well a team can choreograph and time their movements together.

"The
third one is the open round, the fun one. It consists of stunting, tumbling,
everything. It's the most exciting round to watch and the most exciting round
to choreograph.

"Work
as a team. Give it all you've got," the varsity team cheered.

That was
something the girls did, both on and off the competition floor. Berkley High
hosted the championship, and preparing for it takes a monumental effort.

"It
takes coordination, a lot of delegation, and a lot of really, really fabulous
volunteers: parents, friends, the Athletic Boosters, our Athletic Department,
and my hard-working kids," Bubb said.

During the
competition, the Berkley High cheerleaders had their own cheering section.
Junior Richard Inman brought flowers for his friend on the varsity team, Kasey Jerome, and Mrs. Bubb.

"Kasey has cheered for me through my football career and
this is my first chance to see her compete," said Inman. "Mrs. Bubb had done a good job for the girls and she deserves
appreciation too."

"I
came to watch my daughter perform and cheer them on to victory," said
Barry McMinn, father of Alyssa. Alyssa is a member of the varsity team. Beth Bartek of Livonia,
Alyssa's aunt, and two of her cousins, Rebecca and Jenny, came to watch the
competition. Alyssa's mother, Anne, was one of the many Cheer Parents who
worked the event.

Kenyata Sumler and Kevin Starks were
there to cheer on daughter Raven, a member of the junior varsity squad.
Raven's 4-year old sister, Wa'Jae, brought her a
gift.

"If
she wins, I want to give her a bear," she said, holding up a small
stuffed bear wearing Berkley
colors.

Linda and
Randy Kelly brought bells and noisemakers to root for their daughter,
Danielle, another member of the JV team. Danielle's aunt, Ruth Law, and her grandmother,
Ruth Roth of Warren,
helped cheer on her on.

Berkley
High juniors Mindi Combs, Kristen Wolff and Lacie Granstrom also were there
to lend their support.

"It's
such a positive atmosphere," Bubb said.
"The people in the stands cheer for everybody."

At the end
of the Division II competition, the Berkley
varsity team was runnerup for the title.

"I was
very, very pleased with my girls' performance. We had some tough judges
yesterday and they were without me quite a bit," Bubb
said. "I was thrilled with the way they performed and with the way they
behaved and helped me out. I am very lucky to have a fantastic group of
kids."

"Strive
to be great," cheered the varsity team. "You're on your way."

And they
are!