Sunday, March 12, 2006

Maroons take
third place at Class B state cheer finals

By
LEO MARTONOSI Senior correspondent

AIRBORNE:
Holland
Christian's Abbey Zwagerman, center, leads the team in a cheer at the Class B state finals.

Sentinel/J.R. Valderas

The Holland Christian
High School cheerleaders cheer for
the crowd while competing in the MHSAA Class B State Cheer Finals at the
Delta Plex in Grand Rapids on Saturday. (3/11/06)

Sentinel/J.R. Valderas

GRAND RAPIDS -- Holland
Christian put on a top performance in placing third at Saturday evening's
state Class B cheer championships at the DeltaPlex.

"I'm
not one bit disappointed," said Maroon co-head coach Peggy Lintemuth after receiving a hug from Holland Christian
athletic official Mike Phelps.

The
Maroons finished with a 712.1 score after rounds of 193.5, 205.1 and 313.5.

"The
girls did their best. We couldn't have asked for more than that," added
Beth Lintemuth, Peggy's daughter and the Maroons'
co-head coach.

Taking its
first state title with 733.5 points was Remus Chippewa Hills.

Holland
Christian came in second at the 2005 state finals to Ovid Elsie.

"Like
this year, last year's teams were very strong," Peggy Lintemuth said. "The difference this year is all of
the teams competed at a higher level. I've always said if you are going to
lose, lose to a winner and we did that tonight."

Abbey Zwagerman and Darlene Draisma,
the only four-year Maroon varsity letter winners, tipped their hats to
Chippewa Hills and runner-up Chesaning.

"I
don't think any of us are disappointed in finishing behind Chippewa Hills and
Chesaning," Zwagerman said. "They were
both very good teams, plus we gave it our best."

Draisma said it was no disgrace to come in third this year.

"I'm
proud of what we've accomplished," said Draisma.
"Our scores were higher today than what they were last year at
state."

"I'm
really going to miss our seniors (Claire Carbonaro,
Draisma, Zwagerman, Cathy
Hoitenga and Meg Evenhouse),
but Beth and I are excited about the girls who are returning." Peggy Lintemuth said. "It's been a great year."

Contact
Leo Martonosi at [email-masked]
or (616) 546-4270.