It’s back-to-back for Breckenridge’s competitive cheer team: state championship style.
The Huskies made it two straight in Division 4 by winning the competition at the Delta Plex in Comstock Park on March 5.
Breckenridge was first with 767.68 points, followed by Michigan Center (754.12), Merrill (738.70), Sanford Meridian (737.80), Houghton Lake (734.88), Hudson (730.58), Shelby (726.80), and Farwell (711.88)
“All three rounds were strong and solid for us on the day,” said Huskies coach Deb Gaines. “We were pleased with their enthusiasm, strength and presentation in all of our rounds. They performed as a state champion team should.”
Breckenridge led after all the first two rounds 457.38-450.92 against Michigan Center.
“Our top round was round 1,” Gaines said. “ As I look at the still pics of motions, floor placement, etc., I found very few things out of place. We worked really hard in those areas and we received our highest score of the season in this round and I concur with the judges. It was clean, powerful and precise.”
Members of the Huskie team were Amiah Cole, Carmen Collins, Olivia Mayle, Anyssa Betancourt, Megan Carter, Kasey Conn, Emma Rohne, Harly Conklin, Lena Crowell, Alexandria Gillis, Madison Smith, Justine Brabaw, Dakota Colthorp, Kaitlyn Corson, Paige Guthrie, Alicia Gutierrez, Katie Mortenson and Lindsey Reichard.
Gaines is in her 31st year as coach while co-coach Jenna Graham is in her eighth. This is Breckenridge’s third state title in Division 4. The Huskies previously won six state titles in Class C-D.
“This team is extra special as it is the largest team that I have ever coached in my 30-plus years at Breckenridge High School,” Gaines said. “It was awesome to be able to put out maximum numbers in each round. They are a great group of athletes and people. I will always remember this team for many reasons. They worked great together through critique and praise. It was a pleasure.”
MERRILL
Merrill enjoyed a strong third-place performance under coach Courtney Schiller.
“I am so proud of the way my team performed,” Schiller said. “We were at a disadvantage in difficulty going in, since we don’t have the maximum difficulty in round 2, or the maximum choreography in round 3. Additionally, we were the smallest team on the mat. Finishing in third is extremely impressive with these challenges. I think the girls were very pleased with their finish. Although every team wants to win, knowing they put out three great rounds allows them to end the season with no regrets and a proud feeling.”
Cheering for the Vandals were Samantha Brand, Kyle Dittenber, Nicole Dubay, Georgia and Molly Frantz, Kari Good, Gracie Horvat, Zoe Leveto, Megan Playford and Ashley Rich.
“After finishing as the state runner-up in 2014, we were unable to put out a team in 2015 due to low numbers and lack of interest,” Schiller added. “It was very disappointing for our program. So, when we returned this year, it was like starting over in a sense. Only four of our 10 athletes had ever competed at the varsity level, and two of our athletes were completely new to competitive cheer.
“They made a goal at the start of the season to make it back to state finals, and while it may have seemed like a difficult goal at the beginning, as the season progressed, I saw it become something attainable. It was really a growing season, and they proved themselves again and again.”
But Schiller noted that her team had far surpassed her expectations.
“We were thrilled just to have a team at the beginning of the season,” Schiller said. “Once they made a goal of making it back to state finals, that is where we set our sights. The final outcome was our second best finish in program history. That is with a very young, inexperienced team, on a year that we projected to be a rebuilding season. This team overcame the odds and really met every goal they set head-on.”
In the finals, the Vandals were third after round 1.
“Round 2 dropped us back into fifth place, and a strong round three performance pulled us back into third,” Schiller said. “Our third round was really, really solid at state finals. It was the best I’ve ever seen them do it, and it was certainly a great day for them to pull that performance out. However, this team was really the picture of consistency all year, and while they may not have had many wins in their meets week to week, they always hit their rounds consistently, never had falls, and maintained the second best average score in the state. I feel that they were a very poised team, and this showed with their performance at the final meet.”
MERIDIAN
Sanford Meridian Early College was coached by Val MacKenzie, in her 22nd year and was fourth at state. Athletes were Harley Kovach, Jamie Mosher, Courtney Wasalaski, Katie Blanchard, McKenna Burns, Aubrey Erskine, Arianah Kortge, Elizbeth Melchi, Becky O’Dell and Tana Spangler.
“At state finals my team performed phenomenal,” MacKenzie said. “They had the best scores of the whole season. We had an awesome season. My girls improved with each competition. They were a very dedicated and determined team.
“My team well exceeded my expectation. I had a team of three seniors and seven freshman. They blended great for the age span between them and their skills were truly our asset. Out of the 10 girls, seven of them have back tucks (the most difficult skill) all had back handsprings, back walkovers and splits. Also our jumps this season were awesome.”
MacKenzie indicated her team’s best round was the second.
“It was not our highest score of the three rounds but it’s the skill round and we nailed it,” she said. “All of the tucks landed great and the timing of the 10 count and skills were spot on. As for the season, round 1 and 2 were our best until the last half of the season when round 3 kicked it with no bobbles.
“My team this is year is the best I have had in a few years. These girls worked hard for perfection and never gave up. We said the whole season nothing would matter until districts. Well, at districts we took second. We were the champions of our regional, and at state we ended fourth. I am so very proud of what this team accomplished this year. I lose three seniors, but have four girls coming up that have awesome skills and will blend in great on the team. We look forward to our upcoming future. It looks fantastic.”