Besides Breckenridge and Merrill, DeWitt and Tri County also qualified for the state finals in competitive cheer at the Grand Rapids Deltaplex. Teams qualified based on their finishes at regionals the week prior to the finals. Eight teams competed in each of the four divisions.
DIVISION 3
Tri County made its first appearance in the state finals. The Vikings were actually fifth after Round 1 but fell to seventh after Round 2 and to eighth after Round 3.
The team was coached by Jennifer Laskey and consisted of McKenna Clark, Alyssa Gardner, Alexis Herschberger. Michaela Lytle, Taylor Merchant, Jordin Rubingh, Opal Tafe, Baylee Zemla, Morgan DeVault, Nicole Minard, Emily Rienks, Lieci VanRooyen, Kayla Fifield, Sylvia Smith, Adrianna Straub, Taylor Stressman, Jamie VanSetters, Belle Caudill, and Mariah Duncan.
“I think they did a fantastic job for our first time at the state finals,” Laskey said. “We hit Round 1 and did a nice Round 2. Unfortunately in Round 3, things didn’t go we as we had hoped. But overall, it’s an awesome job. I’m very proud of them.”
Notre Dame Preparatory School finished first with 764.04, while Comstock Park was second at 759.68, Grosse Ile third at 749.68, Richmond fourth at 735.46, Armada fifth at 728.02, Otsego sixth at 718.62, and Paw Paw seventh at 717.90.
DIVISION 2
DeWitt settled for fifth place in the Division 2 meet.
Cheerleaders for coach Candace Heskitt’s team were Haley Baade, Kelsey Black, Sarah Bland, Grace Colarossi, Lauren Crooks, Payton Daggy, Caroline Deak, Alexis Embs, Lexi Garza, Brittney Gordon, Marissa Gordon, Kailin Greenhoe, Allison Gyurich, Melissa Harvey, Lauren Hasse, Hannah Heinritz, Jennalyn Jubeck, Meghan Lidgard, MacKenzie Lovellette, Hannah Rokosz, Threse Simon, Nicole Stump, Kaitlyn Sweeney, Brittany Vilella, Abigail Wassom, Ashley Wilkinson, Nicole Yabs, and Elizabeth Zunker.
DeWitt faltered somewhat in Round 3 after being less than a point out of second place at the end of Round 2.
Gibraltar Carlson was first at 780.10, followed by Divine Child with 772.24, Allen Park with 769.06, St. Joseph with 766.88, and DeWitt with 764.16.
DIVISION 1
Southgate Anderson took honors in Division 1 competitive cheer with 785.96, followed by Grandville at 783.54, Dakota at 778.54, Lake Orion at 777.79 , East Kentwood at 777.24, Hartland at 776.82, Troy Athens at 775.38, and Rochester Stoney Creek at 774.20.