The Ile Camera

A Heritage Newspaper

Weekly Publication

A job worth smiling about Grosse Ile
cheerleading team wraps up season at state meet

By Terry Jacoby, Heritage
Newspapers

PUBLISHED: March 18, 2005

Coach Liz Kazik's Grosse Ile Competitive Cheerleading team capped
a sensational season last Saturday by placing third in the Class B state
meet in Grand Rapids. The Red Devils finished five points out of second
place at the state finals and just eight points out of first.

When you've had as much
success as the Grosse Ile Competitive Cheerleading team has had over the years,
success seems to come as easy as a backflip.

But emotions were certainly running high
when the girls took the lead after two rounds at the Class B state tournament
Saturday in Grand Rapids.

The Red Devils fell victim to two perfect
routines and finished in third place in the meet.

"We had slight bobbles and two other
teams right behind us were perfect in the third round and that was the
difference," Coach Liz Kazik said. "The third round usually
determines the winner in a meet like this. It's where there is tumbling and
gymnastics and it's easy to loose or gain points in this round. A minor error
can really cost you."

The Red Devils finished third with 697
points. Ovid-Elsie finished first with 705.5 points and Holland Christian was
second with 702.

"It was still a great day and the team
performed better than they had all season," said Kazik, who was named
coach of the year for the Huron League. "We were really on our game."

The Red Devils took a share of the lead
with Chesaning after the first round. To show how close these teams are,
Chesaning ended up finishing last in the meet.

"The first round is just straight
cheering and I knew we would do well," Kazik said. "Usually, there
isn't much separation after the first round, but it did make a division right
away."

In the second round, where teams are
required to perform at least five skills out of 24 possibilities, Grosse Ile
again was on its game, landing in first place — this time in a tie with
Ovid-Elsie.

Overall, the Red Devils were all alone in
first place.

"Again, we did very well in round
two," said Kazik, who knew her team was in the lead. "Some girls
don't want to know, but some knew we were in first place."

Grosse Ile, making its fifth trip to the
state meet, already is making plans for next year. With only two seniors, the
team should be loaded again next season.

"The girls are already looking forward
to coming back," Kazik said.

And who can blame them? The state meet has
become a regular part of their schedule.