Saturday,
March 5, 2005

Rah, rah, rah

By DREW ELLIS

Sun Sports Writer

It's do or die time
for competitive cheer.

Today marks the regional competition for any and all cheer
teams, which means their seasons of hard work and training will pay off, or
come to a disappointing end.

This year could see an area team qualify in all three classes of
the state finals.

Beginning in Class C/D, where Breckinridge
will host a regional which features five teams either ranked or named honorable
mention in the top 10 poll.

The Huskies stand as the clear favorite, with the No. 1 ranking
and four of the last five state championships.

The real battle should be for the second and final qualifying
spot, where Brown
City, Merrill, Munising,
and Sanford-Meridian all have a shot to take the position.

In Class B, Chippewa Hills is "the new kid on the block,“ garnering a No. 5 ranking in just its first-year in
competitive cheer. The Warriors will compete at Coopersville, and have the
highest ranking of any team in the regional.

"We are very excited,“
Warrior coach Jenna Ruddell said. "We feel like we have something to
prove. The ranking has put some pressure on us, but I think it has also helped
push our girls to perform their best and have confidence to perform well.“

The Warriors will see the toughest competition from Comstock Park,
ranked No. 9, and Sparta,
which is honorable mention.

"We split with Comstock
Park during the season,
so I think it will come down to us two,“ Ruddell
added. "It is going to be a matter of whoever brings the best three rounds
of cheer.“

Should the Warriors win the meet, it would be the first regional
title for cheer, and the first for Chippewa Hills
athletics since 1999.

"I will be relieved when it is all over,“
Ruddell joked. "It will be nice to sleep again. The reality of us winning
is huge. We have as good a chance as anyone. I know we are ready.“

In Class A, Mt.
Pleasant is looking for
its third straight state finals appearance.

It will be no small task for the Oilers,
as they compete at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, who along with the Oilers are honorable mention in the top 10.

Adding to the competition is the presence of Grandville, who is
ranked No. 3 in Class A and the defending state champion.

While Grandville seems to have the upper hand on the regional
title, the Oilers will have to outperform host Kenowa
Hills in order to make it three-in-a-row.

Chip Hills and Mt.
Pleasant begin
competition at its respective sites at 10 a.m., while the Huskies host the
regional beginning at 1 p.m.