Panthers sharpen minds for cheer finals

Wednesday,
March 09, 2005

By Steve Fox

The Grand Rapids Press

HOLLAND -- It is all mental now.

At least that is what West
Ottawa competitive cheer coach Kelli Polinskey is figuring as her team prepares
for the Class A state final at 6 p.m. Saturday at the DeltaPlex Entertainment
and Expo Center
in Walker. The
second-ranked Panthers won the regional competition for the sixth time in seven
years under Polinskey to advance to state.

"We're still
practicing, but really working on the mental things to get to where we need to
be to be a contender," she said.

The
Panthers look like contenders after scoring 734.5 points in the regional
competition, beating last year's state runner-up East
Kentwood (731.5).

Of the 10 state teams, only
perennial power Rochester scored more than West Ottawa in regional competitions and that was by just
one point.

"It's a good morale
booster," Polinskey said of the regional scoring, but she avoided giving
it too much meaning. "The judging can be so different. The judging from
the east to west side tends to be quite a big difference."

West
Ottawa has
35 team members, led by 13 seniors. Three seniors have been on the team four
years: Amanda Wiersma, Kristen Reid and Katrina Balangue.

"Overall, I think we
probably do have more experience than other teams. We've had a lot of girls who
have been here (state) three or four years now," Polinskey said.

She said the Panthers have
held their own in the first round, but shine in the second and third rounds
when their athleticism shines.

The Panthers placed fifth at
state last year. The best finish came in 2001, when West
Ottawa was runner-up.

"The girls' goal all
year has been to just continue improvement from week to week, which they've
continued to do. They've continued to improve in their scores," Polinskey
said. "They really want to medal at state. They know the scoring has been
so close. They realize that it's basically going to be anybody's day, whichever
team is most on."

Rochester has won the state championship eight
times since it started in 1994. Grandville is the only other team to win,
taking the title three times, including last year.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used
with permission