West Ottawa stays in good cheer

Thursday,
March 10, 2005

By Dean
Holzwarth

The Grand Rapids Press

In the last 11 years, only
two teams, Rochester
and Grandville, have had bragging rights at the Class A competitive cheer state
finals.

The state powerhouses have
combined to win 11 state titles, including eight by current No. 1-ranked Rochester.

So isn't it about time for
another team to step into that role?

West
Ottawa
coach Kelli Polinskey and her team feel that way as
they enter Saturday's competition at DeltaPlex.

The Panthers, ranked No. 2
in Class A, will join three other area teams -- Grandville, East Kentwood and Rockford -- in an attempt
to take home the top prize.

West
Ottawa has
made six consecutive trips to the state finals, but has yet to break through.

The Panthers placed
runner-up in 2001, but expectations have been elevated this season with a
veteran bunch that includes 13 seniors, led by four-year standouts Kristen
Reid, Amanda Wiersma and Katrina Balangue.

"I have a strong group
of seniors who are ready to end their career on a high note and finish off a
strong season," said Polinskey, whose team has claimed six titles in the
past two months. "They're trying to stay focused on having the best
performance they possibly can and we'll let the scores fall as they may."

Unlike most years, Polinskey
and others aren't expecting a two-team race.

"Rochester
and Grandville always seem to be head and shoulders above everyone else, but I
think they now feel us and East Kentwood
breathing down their necks," Polinskey said. "I don't see one team
that stands out."

Coaches talking parity

Longtime Grandville coach
Julie Smith-Boyd agrees that parity has put things up for grabs.

"It's a tight field and
probably the tightest it's been since competitive cheer started,"
Smith-Boyd said. "Whoever goes out and has a good day is going to win it
and I think a lot of teams have a shot at it."

While West
Ottawa seeks its first state crown, Grandville is hoping to make
it back-to-back titles after claiming top honors last year.

Smith-Boyd said her team has
felt the weight of last year's accomplishment.

"I think we feel that
more people are out to get us this year, but that's what happens when you are
the defending state champions," she said. "You have that target and
everyone is gunning for you, but I think it's healthy for the sport to have
good competition pushing you and it generates excitement."

Grandville especially is
elated to have the state finals close to home again since it has won its last
three meets in the friendly confines of The DeltaPlex.

"We're comfortable
there, it's a good atmosphere for us and it's close
enough where we can get a huge crowd to come out and support us,"
Smith-Boyd said.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used
with permission