New season
brings good cheer for Rockford

Thursday,
December 29, 2005

By Jeff
Chaney

The Grand Rapids Press

Rockford competitive cheer coach Kathy Jo Resseguie can't contain her excitement when describing
this year's team.

And for good reason.

The Rams are coming off one of
their best seasons, after placing seventh in the state in Division 1. The
team returns a long list of seniors who have a strong knack for leadership.

"I
have an amazing team," said Resseguie, who
lost six seniors to graduation but has 14 returning athletes. "I have
talented kids that work hard and love to cheer. They practice hard and get
along -- it is a coach's dream team."

Eight strong seniors include
Brittany Bronsink, Hillary Hall, Jessica Krueger,
Kim Green, Meagan Shoe, Rachel Twiest, Katie VanderWiere and Caitie Cross.

"This group of seniors is
leading this team like no other group of seniors has," Resseguie said. "This senior class is awesome."

Shoe likes the chemistry.

"I think we have an incredibly
strong team this year," Shoe said. "We have worked so hard in
gymnastics, and that has helped us prepare our skills for this season. And we
have a lot of talent this year. I just want us to keep improving as the year
goes. If that happens, we hope that we can improve on last year."

The Rams already have competed and
took second behind Grandville at the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association
Invitational.

"We won the morning pool,
which included Kenowa Hills, Mount Pleasant and East
Kentwood," Resseguie said.
"During the day we beat West Ottawa and East
Kentwood, and that is something we are not used to. We are
switching things up in the area and that is kind of nice. I hope we continue
to do that."

Performances like that have Resseguie enthusiastic.

"The girls are excited and
motivated," Resseguie said. "We have a
lot of talent. This is more talent than any Rockford team has ever had.

"They want to get back to the
state finals and improve upon our seventh-place finish from last year. I
definitely think this team can do it if they continue to work hard and stay
focused."

The team is in action Jan. 7 at Byron Center. It hosts a jamboree two days
later.