By Nate Schneider

Sports Scene

Keep an eye out for the Alma High School varsity competitive cheer team.

The Panthers are putting together a fantastic season, scoring as high as 731.8 in a meet this season and currently holding first place in the Tri-Valley Conference West with 10 points. The final TVC West meet was Jan. 24 at St. Charles..

There are 14 girls on the Alma roster with senior captains Mara Benitez and Payton Sullivan along with a junior captain in Karen Nguyen helping to lead the way. Among the other standouts this season have been a junior in Cornelia Gotaas and freshman Christa Fornusak.

“It’s our goal to finish first in the conference and win our district,” Alma coach Laura McCarthy said. “This team definitely has the potential to go to the state finals.”

The Panthers have never been to the state finals in program history.

Alma will also compete in the All-TVC meet February 3 at Frankenmuth.