Wednesday, March 16, 2005

GHS cheerleaders 13th in MCCA state meet - Blue Devils
improve over 22nd-place finish in 2004 state finals

By Mike Dunn, Sports Editor

SAGINAW - The goal was to get in the top 15. Gaylord
cheerleading coach Ronda Davis would have loved to see a top 10 finish for her
team in Saturday's Michigan Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA) state meet
at Saginaw Valley State University, but she was realistic; competing against
teams more than twice as big with a large coaching staff and gymnastics'
instructors was too much for a small Class A school like Gaylord to overcome.

She was right. The Blue Devils performed flawlessly on
Saturday, hitting every stunt perfectly and turning in their best overall
performance in what has been an outstanding season. It wasn't enough for top
10, though. The judges awarded Gaylord 13th place overall. Davis would have
loved a higher finish, but she also realizes that 13th place is an outstanding
showing for Gaylord among the elite programs of the state. It is also eight
places higher than last year's 22nd-place finish.

"I'm so proud of this team," Davis said on Monday
night. "They devoted so much time to doing the routines and making themselves
better. It all paid off at the end.

"They were just great on Saturday. They hit every stunt
and performed flawlessly in front of a packed gymnasium with all that pressure
of being in the state meet. Some of the younger girls were really nervous
before they went out there. And then as soon as they hit the floor, they were
fine. They even surprised me with how well they responded to the
pressure."

There are four seniors on this year's team: co-captains
Jessica Davis and Amber Modrzynski along with Candace
Marcotte and Danny Williams. Williams, the only male
on the roster, joined the team this year and was a great asset to the program
with his physical strength and the way that he fit in with the girls. Davis has
greatly appreciated Williams' contributions.

The other three seniors, including Davis' daughter Jessica,
have been with the coach for four years.

"I'm going to miss them so much," Davis said.
"They've provided leadership and inspiration to everybody on the team. We
wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much without them."

The rest of the 2004-05 Gaylord roster
includes Andrea Heumann, Amanda Boughner,
Heather Knouse, Megan Gibbs, Alison Mogle, Katie Goddeyne, Sarah
Forman, Tiffany O'Dell, Kayla Bottrell, Jessica
Wagner, Emily Comella, Catherine Buckler, Ashley Figiel, Jessica Sova, Deann Jutras and Chelsie Johnston.