Sports

Cheer team takes 3rd at Lapeer
Invite

Casey Curtis

write the
author

January 11, 2006 - Although the Oxford
High School girls
Varsity Competitive Cheer Team placed third in last Saturday's Lapeer East
Invitational, coach Alanna Stockley
said the team is right where they should be this early in the season.

The girls scored 167.5 in the first round, 164
(with a 35 point penalty) in second and 245 in third round
and were the only team to perform back tucks as a team skill in the second
round.

"This past weekend the team as a whole
performed very strong," said Stockley.

With two injuries occurring before the invite, Stockley said the team didn't dwell on the routine
changes and hopes to be stronger at the next invitational.

The team performed unison jumps, level changes,
stunting, tumbling and a 10-count precision drill in front of a large
audience in Lapeer. Stockley called the atmosphere
"exciting" because it was the first invitational for many of the
teams.

"So, everyone was really nervous, but it was
a great feeling," Stockley said.

Because the team of 15 is smaller than others in
the Flint/Metro League, Stockley said they will
continue to practice their back tucks and become "the team to
beat."

"All we need to do is perform better each
time we compete," Stockley said. "That is
all I ask from my team. We are a talented group."

The team will face rivals Lake
Orion, Chesaning and Stoney Creek at this Saturday's invitational at OHS at
9:30 a.m.