Friday, December 23, 2005

COMPETITIVE CHEER PREVIEW

Maroons ranked No. 1, Panthers No. 2 in cheer

By
LEO MARTONOSI Senior correspondent

IN UNISON: Members of the West Ottawa varsity competitive
cheer team round out their routine at West Ottawa
High School last
season. The Panthers look to kick off another successful season.

The Michigan Competitive Cheer Officials of Michigan think
highly of West Ottawa and Holland Christian.

The Maroons, who
finished second at last year's Division 2 state championship, are ranked No. 1 heading into this season. The Panthers,
runners-up a year ago, are ranked second to defending state champion Rochester. The Maroons
may have surprised the state with their runners-up Class B state finish a
year ago, but not co-coaches Peggy and Elisabeth Lintemuth.

"We had some
talented and hard working girls," said Peggy Lintemuth.

"The girls
wanted it bad," said Peggy's daughter, Elisabeth.

The Holland
Christian coaches said the team's goals are to win conference and to win a
second trip to the state finals.

"To accomplish
both of these goals each athlete has dedicated herself to be mentally and
physically prepared for each practice and each meet," said Peggy Lintemuth.

The Maroons have a
determined group of girls.

"The team's
most outstanding characteristic is its work ethic," Peggy Lintemuth said. "They have been working extremely
hard to prepare for the upcoming season.

"Because of
all the new schools coming into competitive cheer this season, the
competition will be even tougher than last year. Meeting their
own high expectations for themselves will also be challenging. The
motto for this year's team is "Bring on the Challenge."'

Seniors include
Clare Carbonaro, Darlene Draisma,
Meg Evenhouse, Cathy Hoitenga
and Abbey Zwagerman.Even though the Panthers lost
some of their top athletes from a year ago, the
goals of the team haven't changed, according to eighth-year coach Kelli Polinskey.

"We are a much
younger team with only nine seniors, but the goals and expectations are the
same," Polinskey said.

Besides picking up
their game at state, the 2004-05 Panthers were regional champions and shared
the O-K crown with Grandville.

"The girls
want to keep the tradition going," said Polinskey.

Seniors on the team
include Autum Cooper, Lauren Geswein,
Hailey Moeke, Arena Sikoulabout,
Laura Mathews, Melissa Ross, Megan Rich, Amanda Pfoft
and Ashee Stone.

Polinskey is also counting
on some big things from junior Heather Fuglseth,
and sophomore Amanda Janowiak.

"This is
Heather's third year on the varsity, and Amanda is looking very good for a
sophomore," Polinskey said.The
Hawkeyes will not only field a young but a small
team this season.

"We only have
eight girls on the team," said third-year Hamilton coach Becky Rosel.
"We have a lot to learn and there's a lot of room for improvement.

"The great
thing is the girls are willing to work and have wonderful attitudes."

Stephanie Mentzer is the only Hamilton
senior on the squad.

"We have three
juniors and three sophomores and one freshman," Rosel
said.

Juniors include
Kristina Jackson, Stephanie Garcia and Gabrielle Lightfoot. Sophomore on the team are Julie Schrotenboer,
Karra Dykhouse and Lauren
Harper. Amanda Schoeppe is the lone freshman on the
roster.

Contact Leo Martonosi at [email-masked] or (616)
546-4270