PUBLISHED:
Friday, March 3, 2006

Tough regionals
await area competitive cheer teams

Chippewa Hills, Mt. Pleasant
could have advantages as host schools

By DREW
ELLIS

Sun Sports Writer

Competing for a state championship can be
stressful, but trying to get to the finals is even worse.

Competitive cheer regionals are take
place Saturday, with just two teams in each regional getting a chance to
advance to the state finals next weekend.

While Breckenridge looks for its 13th staight
regional title in Class C/D, teams like Mt. Pleasant and Chippewa Hills are
biting their nails in anticipation for Saturday, hoping to make a finals
appearance.

Both the Warriors and Oilers will be
hosting their respective regionals, and both find
themselves with tough competition vying for the two qualifying spots.

In Class B, Chippewa Hills is ranked No. 1, but Saturday will
have to contend with No. 2 ranked Chesaning, and honorable mentions DeWitt
and Ovid-Elsie.

"In my opinion, this is the hardest regional in Class
B," Warrior coach Jenna Ruddell said.
"There is a lot of talent in this regional, but all we can do is focus
on what we can control and that is our performance. All we can do is go out
and do our best, and hope our scores are good enough."

Having the regional at their gym will obviously give the
Warriors an added advantage in crowd size and comfort.

"We have been able to work all week on the mats that will
be used Saturday, and we have been able to visualize the experience," Ruddell added. "I think that is definitely an
advantage."

Being ranked No. 1 also puts the Warriors as a favorite to
walk out with the regional title Saturday, but any mistake could end Chippewa
Hills' chances to compete for a state championship next week, which has made
this week very tension-filled.

"Anything beyond this week is just a bonus," Ruddell said. "You have to get to the finals before
you can think about winning them. This week has been very stressful and the girls
are just anxious to go out and compete. We just have to take things one meet
at a time, and go out and give our best effort."

The story is similar for Mt. Pleasant Saturday, as the Oilers host the Class A regional, and enter the meet as
an honorable mention in the Class A rankings. Standing in the Oilers way for a trip to the finals is No. 5 Rockford,
and honorable mention Grand Rapids Forest Hills.

"We are certainly hoping that we cane make it
through," Oiler coach Kristi LaFleur said of
advancing Saturday. "The last month we have really pulled together to
accomplish the goal of making it to the finals. In our minds, there is no
reason we can't do that Saturday."

After reaching the finals two years ago, the Oilers came up just short last season. This year, Mt. Pleasant
is using last year's disappointment to push itself, and hosting doesn't hurt
its chances either.

"Our girls really want to get to the finals, because a
number of them haven't experienced that yet," LaFleur
said. "Some of them just want to know what it is like, and I think being
able to compete at home really gives us an added bonus to accomplish that
chance. We are really excited to perform for our home crowd."

Breckenridge will have its toughest regional competition in
years at Merrill, having to compete against its rival and No. 2 ranked
Pewamo-Westphalia, along with No. 5 Munising, No. 8 Sanford-Meridian, and
honorable mention Merrill.

"It's been a long time since (P-W) has been in our
region," Breckenridge coach Deb Gaines said. "Back then only one
team got out so there was a lot of pressure. With the regional this year, you
don't want to close your eyes at all because I'm not real sure what some of
these schools bring."

While the Huskies have had no setbacks this season in a quest
for a third-straight state championship and six out of the last seven years,
anything can happen on the mats.

"It will be fun for us," Gaines said. "Nothing
is set in stone but if the girls perform to their potential they'll do
well."

The Huskies begin competition at 4 p.m. in Merrill, while the
Warriors take the mat at 10 a.m. in Remus, and Mt. Pleasant
begins at 11 a.m.