The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Manchester takes seventh at cheerleading regionals
First year coach says teamwork was key to successful season
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
A season of growth and success came to an end for the Manchester competitive cheerleading team as the Flying Dutch placed seventh out of 13 teams at the Division 4 regional meet March 1 at Michigan Center High School.
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The Dutch finished the meet with 593.404 points. Host Michigan Center won the regional title with 708.94, edging out defending regional champ Hudson, which scored 708.464. The Dutch beat out fellow Cascades squads Grass Lake (eighth, 592.68), Addison (10th, 587.54), Vandercook Lake (11th, 584.08) and Hanover-Horton (13th, 493.3).
Michigan Center and Hudson advanced to the Division 4 state championship meet Saturday at the Delta Plex in Grand Rapids.
Manchester scored 184 points with in the first round, good enough for fourth place behind Michigan Center, Hudson and Lutheran Westland. The Dutch retained fourth place after scoring 163.404 in the second round, then finished the day with 246 points in the third round.
"I think we performed the best that we could, and when we first stepped on the mats teams noticed us," Manchester coach Darcy Ketelaar said. "We went out there as a team and not as individuals. The girls put out 100-percent effort and as a coach I'm proud."
Michigan Center trailed Hudson by 0.5 entering the final round, but outscored the Tigers 288.5-287.5 to win the regional title.
The Dutch were buddy teams with Michigan Center throughout the season, with both teams cheering for each other at meets.
"The coach at Michigan Center (Jessica Trefry) is someone I can look up to because their program has come a long way," Ketelaar said. "They deserved their place."
Maicie Fruge earned All-Regional Second Team honors for Manchester. Ciara Kukalis was named All-Regional honorable mention.
According to Ketelaar, the Dutch accomplished each of the goals they set for the season. Manchester finished in the top three at seven meets and topped the 600-point mark in three events. It also took first at the Vandercook Lake quad meet and placed high at the Cascades Conference meet despite an injury in the final round that forced the Dutch to quickly change their routine.
"We became a team, and it's a different team than last year," Ketelaar said. "Hopefully we'll continue to be a team to watch out for."
The season was especially gratifying for Ketelaar, who was in her first year as Manchester's coach.
"With it being the first year that I was on my own, I had some fears coming into the season," she said. "We were 16 cheerleaders and a coach at the start of the year, but we came together as a team and were there for each other."
The 2007-08 Manchester competitive cheerleading team consists of Sarah Barnett, Lorelei Baron, Alexis Cozart, Maicie Fruge, Katelyn Horning, Mary Kastanis, Ciara Kukalis, Myra Sandford, Lauren Scaglione, Maggie Sikora, Claire Simpson, Katelyn Spring, Kim Ticknor, Michelle Walters, Raven Webster, Danielle Winalis and coach Darcy Ketelaar.
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