Godwin Heights proves it can compete with the big boys

Thursday,
January 19, 2006

By
Steve Ungrey

The Grand Rapids Press

Godwin Heights' competitive cheer program arrived
at Allendale for its invitational on Wednesday and was sure it would be
competing among smaller schools.

Then coach Chris Hudson found out,
due to a couple of larger schools pulling out of the tournament, that he
would be in with large Class A programs like Grand Rapids Christian and
Kenowa Hills.

The Wolverines didn't quite reach
the top spot, but they fared well given the last-second switch. Godwin Heights scored 655.3 points in the
three-round event, edging GR Christian by three-tenths of a point for the
runner-up spot. Kenowa Hills (691.4) won the event.

"You
never know what to expect with those teams, it did surprise us," Hudson said. "For
us to be anywhere close to these programs is a great
accomplishment. I thought we'd be good enough to be in the top five but to
compete against Class A schools like that is great."

It has been a smooth start to the
season for Godwin
Heights, which can't
seem to reach No. 1 on the charts despite a strong squad with plenty of
talent.

Godwin finished second in its O-K
Conference action a year ago behind Comstock Park
and lost no girls from the team. It finished second behind Otsego at a
tournament earlier this season.

"We have the same kids as
before," said Hudson, who is guiding the Godwin squad into its third
year as a competitive program. "We started out really young as a JV team
and all we had were freshmen and sophomores.

"Now five of our 12 girls are
seniors but it isn't as bad as some of the teams who lose seniors every year.
Of the five seniors we have, only a couple compete
in all three rounds of play."

So far, Hudson said, senior Karah
Bennett, junior Heather Cope and sophomore Tori
Edwards have been among the stronger performers helping the Wolverines get to
the next level.

The Wolverines begin play in the
O-K Conference with a tournament they host on Wednesday.

Comstock Park
is out of the conference this year, with Allendale, Calvin Christian,
Hopkins, Kelloggsville and Lee all involved in league play with Godwin Heights.

"We're closing the scores a
bit," Hudson
said.

"We got Allendale last week
and Calvin Christian has looked pretty good so far. We hope this is the year
we do well."