Cheer squad
sets state title as goal

Thursday,
December 29, 2005

By Jeff
Chaney

The Grand Rapids Press

The Comstock Park
competitive cheer team is hoping to return to its sport's biggest stage in
March.

It has been four years since the
Panthers cheered for a state title.

"We want state so bad this
year, just because we haven't had it so long," senior Erica Keene said.
"No one on this team has gone, so that is our motivation."

Awesome potential

Comstock Park coach Kathy Felty echoes those
sentiments, along with other goals she would like her team to achieve.

"This team has awesome
potential," Felty said. "Our goal will be to make it to the state
finals this year. And hopefully win our new conference (O-K Blue).

"It will be a fun year to see
what everybody has. I'm sure the competition will be good."

Last year the Panthers won the O-K
Rainbow Tier 3 Conference championship and took third at regionals,
just missing out at a chance to cheer at the state finals.

"We have had great years, but
so have a couple of other teams that we have had in our region," Felty
said. "Just missing it by a couple of points here and there, that's how
it's been."

Lost few seniors

Comstock Park lost just three seniors to
graduation off that team, giving Felty a solid foundation to build around
this year.

Joining Keene are senior Ashley Noordyke
and juniors Amanda Gilbert, Kalie DeMey, Andrea Covert and Danielle Pokora.

"This year's team has an
awesome group of girls," Felty said. "At the Coaches Association
Scholarship Invitational last week we scored 660 points, which is a great
first time out.

"Our stunt round scored us
high, just like it did last year for us. That is exciting for us because that
is a difficult round."

The team competes next Jan. 16 at
the Comstock Park Invitational.

"We have a really young team
this year," Keene
said. "We are talented. I think it will come during the season.

"I think we are closer to
getting to state than we have ever been. We have improved so much."