Gladstone wins state cheer
crown

Monday, March 06, 2006

SAGINAW - The Gladstone
High School cheerleaders won the
state championship here Saturday, leading a strong Upper
Peninsula showing.

The
Braves won Class B, with Kingsford finishing second at the Michigan
Cheerleading Coaches Association tournament. Iron
Mountain won Class C, with Norway third
and Munising fifth.

"Everything was
amazing," said Gladstone
coach Kristi Nevala. "They could not have
performed any better. They just nailed everything they put on the floor. They
went down there to entertain the crowd and that is exactly what they
did."

The Braves had 22 tumbling passes in
their creative routine and 18 standing backhand springs, Nevala
said.

"The stunt team was amazing.
They could not put anything more on the mat. It was non-stop action (for
three minutes) from beginning to end," she said. "The girls worked
so hard. They poured their heart and soul into that event. They believed in
each other and that is why they won."