Union sends cheer team to regionals

Thursday,
March 03, 2005

By Jeff
Chaney

The Grand Rapids Press

The Union competitive cheer
team entered this season with one objective in mind -- steady improvement.

"Our goal was to have
better scores every time we hit the mat and that has happened," said coach Susan VanWyk, who is
assisted by former Union cheerleader Cheryl VanderHyde.

"We've upped our skills
this year and everything has been going very well."

An
increase in participation has sparked the Red Hawks as 17 girls will be on hand
for Saturday's Class A regional meet at Kenowa Hills.

It will be a far different
look from last year when only five girls completed the season.

"We didn't have a lot
of girls last year, but we made a good showing and girls saw that and wanted to
be a part of the program," VanWyk said. "We
had some girls on our past teams that were good influences so others wanted to
join in."

Union, which has been led by seniors
Ashley Bart, Ivy Cantera, Heather Engle, Angella Gipson, and Alexis Sanchez, has competed in nine
events this year with its best effort taking place at the end of January at the
Catholic Central Invitational.

The Red Hawks placed second
behind the host Cougars with a season-high score of 604.

"The girls have
progressed all year and it's been fun to watch," VanWyk
said. "Rounds one and two have been good, but round three still needs some
polishing."

VanWyk said executing in the final round
will be crucial in order to obtain high marks at regionals.

"They need to have a
clean round three and that's really our goal," she said.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used
with permission