Allegan
cheer heads back to state finals

By Jason Wesseldyk

Sports Editor

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 10:14 AM EST

Allegan finished second behind Gull Lake
in regional cheer action Saturday. (Photo by David Stamm)

OTSEGO-Make it three
in a row for the Allegan competitive cheer team.

The Tigers earned their third straight trip to the Class B state finals by
placing second at the 15-team regional competition in Otsego Saturday.

Allegan finished with 677.6 points, while Wolverine Conference foe Gull Lake
took top honors with a showing of 693.1. Otsego (661.5), St. Joseph (656.3) and Plainwell (650)
rounded out the top five.

The Class B finals, which features the top-two
finishers from the five regionals throughout the
state, is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids. Start
time is 6 p.m.

According to Allegan coach Pam Ingles, who's in her third season at the helm
for the Tigers, her team's solid regional performance is largely the result of
a tough regular-season schedule.

"All of the previous competitions throughout the season helped prepare
us for this competition," Ingles said. "This is the one that counts
as far as making it to the state finals.

"Now we're one of
the 10 state finalists. That right there is an accomplishment in itself. To
be able to say that you're in the top 10 in the entire state is something to
be very proud of. Obviously we would like to place high, but I would really
like the girls to go out there and give it their all, and most of all, have
fun."

Allegan used a steady effort at regionals to earn
that place in the state finals. The Tigers finished second to Gull Lake in
round one (191-185), tied the Blue Devils for first in round two
(201.1-201.1) and were second-again to Gull Lake-in round three (301-291.5).

"The girls have worked extremely hard all season to reach this goal and
I'm very proud of each and every one of them," Ingles said. "It
takes every girl on our team to accomplish our team goals."

As far as the competition in the state finals, Ingles knows the Tigers will
be facing some stiff competition.

"Each year, the teams in the state finals get tougher and tougher,"
Ingles said. "This sport continues to grow, and along with that growth comes the hard work and dedication of all of these teams.
The skill levels continue to rise, and that will be
apparent at the competition Saturday."