Tuesday, February 7, 2006

PREP ROUNDUP

Hawkeyes seventh

By
LEO MARTONOSI Senior correspondent

The Hamilton
competitive cheer team wanted to put on a good performance in its lone home
meet of the season Monday night. Unfortunately, for the Hawkeyes
it didn't quite happen.

"We didn't
perform like I thought and hoped we would," said third-year Hamilton coach Becky Rosel. "That was a little disappointing."

There may have been
a reason why the Hawkeyes finished seventh out of
eight O-K Rainbow schools with an overall 500 score.

"I think we
were a little nervous," said Stephanie Mentzer,
the lone senior on Hamilton's
young squad.

For some teams it's
tougher to shine before family members and friends, Rosel
said.

"There's a
little more pressure performing at home than on the road," Rosel said. "The girls are not used to that type of
pressure."

Kenowa Hills, one
of five Class A teams at the league meet, came in first with an overall 678
score. The Forest Hills combined squad was
second at 657.2. Placing third with 642.5 points was Caledonia.
Byron Center followed with a 642 score.

Rounding out the
field were: Lowell, fifth, 562.7; Wayland, sixth,
516; and Middleville, eighth, 455.9.

The judges gave Hamilton a first-round
score of 152, and second round tally of 139. The Hawkeyes
performed at a higher level in Round 3 with a 209 score.

"We wanted to
do better," said Mentzer. "It just didn't
happen, but we've been practicing, working hard."

Hamilton's small roster
includes juniors Stephanie Garcia, Kristina Jackson and Brie Lightfoot,
sophomores Julie Schrotenboer, Karra
Dykehouse and Lauren Harper and freshman, Amanda Scheoppe.