Allegan
cheer team takes third place

By Jason Wesseldyk

Sports Editor

Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:59 AM EST

HOLLAND-In a
competition that featured three of the top-five ranked competitive cheer team
in Class B, Allegan was second to none through two rounds.

The Tigers, ranked fifth, had compiled 400.8 points through the first two
rounds, placing them ahead of both No. 2 Holland Christian (397.6 points) and
No. 4 Gull Lake (393.3).

That lead, however, wouldn't last through round three.

Allegan scored 285.5 in the final round, while Holland Christian had a 308.5
and Gull Lake had a 302.5, giving both those
squads enough points to move past the Tigers in the final standings.

Holland Christian finished with a 706.1, while Gull Lake
had a 695.8. Allegan finished with 686.3 points.

This wasn't the first time the Tigers had some troubles in round three.

"Once again we
were in first place going into round three," Allegan coach Pam Ingles
said. "This was probably the first competition where our stunts were
solid without any little wobbles, but we had a girl doing her running tumbling
when her foot slipped out from under her, causing her to fall instead of
completing her second back handspring.

"These are the little things that we need to eliminate."

Although the Tigers didn't win the competition, they didn't go away completely
empty handed.

The event was also a scholarship event, and Allegan senior Sana Labra was selected from among the eligible seniors to
receive the top scholarship.

"Any senior who'd participated in at least one round and had a grade
point of at least 3.2 overall could apply for the scholarship, and we were priveledged to have Sana
selected," Ingles said. "We-her teammates, parents and myself-were all very proud of her. It's nice to have girls
recognized in such a great way."