Preview: Could Friday Finals See New Challengers?
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 25, 2021
Friday's MHSAA Division 1 and 3 Competitive Cheer Finals at Michigan State University's Breslin Center will include the reigning champions from both divisions and a handful of other contenders we're used to seeing compete during the season's final weekend.
But could this also be another opportunity for a new contender to break through? Rochester Adams won its first championship last season in Division 1, but Plymouth also finished among the top two for the first time. Richmond and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep seem to trade off being the best in Division 3, but Paw Paw is undefeated this season and Croswell-Lexington is another program on the rise.
Spectators will be limited at Friday's Finals, but both will be viewable with subscription on MHSAA.tv. Division 3 begins competition at 10 a.m., with Division 1 at 3 p.m.
Here's a glance at all eight teams competing in each of those divisions (with Division 2 and 4 previews to be published later Friday):
Division 1
BRIGHTON
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West.
Coach: Christina Wilson, seventh season
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1999.
Top score: 788.38.
Team composition: 22 total (five seniors, 10 juniors, two sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Brighton, which also won the overall KLAA title, will be making its fourth Finals appearance in five seasons and is looking to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish at a very tightly-contested Division 1 meet. Brighton’s last three overall scores this season have been 781 or higher to go with wins at the KLAA, District and Regional meets. Seniors Sage Spangler, Gabrielle Ditto and Riley Harvill earned all-region recognition last season.
BROWNSTOWN WOODHAVEN
League finish: Did not compete in a league this season.
Coach: Tara Hazey, 10th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 783.9.
Team composition: 24 total (four seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, 15 freshmen).
Outlook: Woodhaven is returning to the Finals for the first time since 1995, the latest in a string of accomplishments the last few seasons that also included the program’s first District title in 2019. The Warriors have scored at least 770 points three of their last four competitions. Seniors Marla Matatall, Marisela Vazquez and Brooke Sadlowski and junior Kennedy Stewart earned all-district honors last season.
GRAND BLANC
League finish: Did not compete in a league this season.
Coach: Christina Swansey, 10th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 782.8.
Team composition: 21 total (four seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Grand Blanc competed only four times this season, but the Bobcats made them count scoring at least 770 at all four and winning their District. They just missed its first top-two Finals finish a year ago, coming in third but less than two points off the lead. Senior Isabella Andre made the all-state second team last season, and junior Jackie Kloph earned an honorable mention.
GRANDVILLE
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red.
Coach: Julie Smith-Boyd, 40th season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), nine runner-up finishes.
Top score: 784.44.
Team composition: 23 total (three seniors, eight juniors, three sophomores, 10 freshmen).
Outlook: Despite missing last season’s Finals, Grandville is among a group of near-yearly qualifiers and finished top-two as recently as 2016. The Bulldogs have scored 780 points four times this winter including to win their District and finish second at their Regional. Seniors Charli Sanchez, Chloe Beatty, Ellie Irwin and juniors Elyse Friberg and Ashley Lam earned all-district recognition last season.
LAKE ORION
League finish: Third in Oakland Activities Association Red.
Coach: Niki Hills, seventh season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 784.02.
Team composition: 27 total (seven seniors, eight juniors, six sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Lake Orion is another Finals regular and finished seventh last season. The Dragons have scored 772 or higher their last six competitions, and finished second at their District less than two points off the lead. Senior Tara Koncelik made the all-state first team last season.
PLYMOUTH
League finish: First in KLAA East.
Coach: Samantha Kerr, sixth season
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2020.
Top score: 788.66 at District.
Team composition: 32 total (five seniors, 13 juniors, 10 sophomores, four freshmen)
Outlook: Plymouth posted its top Finals finish ever just a year ago and could be building toward another grand finale with scores of 780 or better its last four competitions. The Wildcats won their District and finished second at both the KLAA overall conference meet and their Regional. Juniors Allison Cassar, Avery Maruszewski and Natalia Muzquiz made the all-state first team last season.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
League finish: First in OAA Red.
Coach: Brooke Miller, seventh season
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2020, three runner-up finishes.
Top score: 791.96.
Team composition: 28 total (seven seniors, 10 juniors, nine sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: After finishing Division 1 runner-up two straight seasons, Adams claimed its first title in 2020 and might be the team to chase again this weekend. The Highlanders have scored at least 790 points in four meets and won every competition but one where they finished second. Seniors Claire Crutchfield and Olivia Ris made the all-state first team last winter, senior Ava Bondra and juniors Julia Schultz and Christina Truszkowski made the second team and seniors Carly Schultz and Melina Catenacci and junior Sabrina Lee earned honorable mentions.
ROCHESTER HILLS STONEY CREEK
League finish: Second in OAA Red.
Coach: Tricia Williams, 18th season
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2019 and 2010.
Top score: 788.48.
Team composition: 19 total (three seniors, 11 juniors, one sophomore, four freshmen).
Outlook: Stoney Creek is another frequent Finals participant back after missing the trip a year ago. The Cougars have scored at least 783 points at three competitions including in finishing third at their Regional. Senior Avery McNamara and junior Ella DeGraw earned all-region recognition in 2020.
Division 3
ALMA
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference.
Coach: Kelly Gibson, second season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two finish.
Top score: 714.78 at Regional.
Team composition: 15 total (six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Alma was a solid second in the TVC, taking second at all four league competitions and scoring at least 675 at all four. Gibson is only four years removed from cheering for the Panthers and led them to a league title in her first season a year ago. Seniors Christa Fornusek and Victoria Gotaas earned all-region honors last season.
BATTLE CREEK PENNFIELD
League finish: Second in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference.
Coach: Kristen Tucker, sixth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 720.86 at Regional.
Team composition: 19 total (nine seniors, four juniors, six sophomores).
Outlook: After making Regionals for the fourth straight season, Pennfield took the next step with third place to make it to this weekend’s meet. The Panthers also won three invitationals during the regular season. Seniors Makayla Woolman, Jaidyn Pike and Cathrine Govier and juniors Madison Bommersbach and Delainee Etheridge earned all-district recognition last winter.
COMSTOCK PARK
League finish: First in O-K Silver.
Coach: Hayley Strickland, third season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), four runner-up finishes.
Top score: 757.66.
Team composition: 22 total (six seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores, four freshmen)
Outlook: The Panthers finished fifth at last season’s Finals and followed up by placing first or second at all but one competition this season. They’ve scored less than 700 points only once and at least 730 in four straight meets. Senior Madison Kucharczyk is a returning all-state first teamer, seniors Shanthony Taylor and Niyah Gill made the second team last season and sophomore Delaney Geraghty earned honorable mention.
CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
League finish: Second in Blue Water Area Conference.
Coach: Katie Tomlinson, sixth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 767.76 at District.
Team composition: 17 total (three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Last season’s fourth-place finisher was within five points of coming in runner-up. The Pioneers have gone over 755 points four times this winter and 764 or higher in both of their last two meets. Juniors Taylor Johnson and Ashley Peyerk made the all-state second team last season, and junior Sage Kellerman earned an honorable mention.
FLAT ROCK
League finish: First in Huron League.
Coach: Katelynne Zipfel, second season
Championship history: Class C-D champion 1998, two runner-up finishes.
Top score: Not submitted.
Team composition: 17 total (six seniors, six juniors, three sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Flat Rock scored 742 at its District and 762 at its Regional on the way back to the Finals. The Rams finished third at both but also within three points of winning both – and the Regional included annual powers Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Croswell-Lexington and Richmond. Seniors Kassandra Corrujedo and Kylee Marrow earned all-region in 2020.
PAW PAW
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference.
Coach: Stefanie Miller, 12th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 779.44.
Team composition: 22 total (four seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Paw Paw finished third last season, only two points out of second, and has won every competition it has competed in this season. Paw Paw has scored at least 770 points four times and 776 or more the last three. Senior Mackenzie Miller and junior Paige Miller made the all-state first team last season, juniors Rylee Goldberg and Alexis Sunlin made the second and junior Gabby Oh earned an honorable mention.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Beth Lockhart, eighth season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), three runner-up finishes.
Top score: 772.34 at District.
Team composition: 24 total (five seniors, six juniors, five sophomores, eight freshmen).
Outlook: Last season’s runner-up finish was Notre Dame Prep’s second straight and eighth-consecutive top-two finish in Division 3. The Fighting Irish bounced back from finishing second to Richmond at the District to winning their Regional. Senior Olivia Duoba is a returning all-state first teamer, juniors Grace Byrne and Riley Lumm and sophomore Raylynn Quasarano made the second and senior Sydney Hoeppner earned an honorable mention.
RICHMOND
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference.
Coach: Kelli Matthes, 13th season
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 781.87 at District.
Team composition: 23 total (one senior, eight juniors, eight sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Richmond has won the last two Division 3 titles and finished first or second nine of the last 10 seasons. The Blue Devils’ low score is 744.44 and they won all of their competitions before finishing fourth at the Regional – but still, only 4.1 points out of first that day. Juniors Makenna Parker and Gracie Ellis made the all-state first team last season, and junior Ava Moskwa made the second team.
PHOTO: Paw Paw competes in Round 1 of last season's Division 3 Competitive Cheer Finals.
Stoney Creek Finishes as Best from Rochester, Best in all of Division 1
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
MOUNT PLEASANT – “The Rochester Invitational,” an event also known as the Division 1 Competitive Cheer Finals, proved Friday how a great rivalry pushes everyone to be their best.
The MHSAA represents schools covering more than 96,000 square miles in Michigan, but the Division 1 battle came down to three Rochester Community Schools all located within four miles of each other – Rochester, Rochester Adams and Rochester Hills Stoney Creek.
The teams have tussled at the Oakland Activities Association Red level, followed by District, Regional and Finals for years, with the difference between them often coming down to a tenth of a point, or less.
Rochester Adams won the Finals for the third-straight year in 2022, Rochester took the title last year and, appropriately enough, Stoney Creek led from start-to-finish and won Friday at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
“Today was our day, and it feels great,” said Stoney Creek senior Charlotte Cahill. “It’s so tough. All three of our teams have experienced the close losses and the wins. It’s three great teams, and it comes down to the little, tiny, minute details.”
Stoney Creek finished with a three-round score of 792.98 - good for a 1.42-point margin of victory over second-place Adams (791.56), with Rochester a mere two-tenths of a point further back in third at 791.36.
The Cougars captured their third Finals title, after winning most recently in 2019.
The competition was close throughout, with Stoney Creek holding the lead going into the pivotal third round, but with both Rochester and Adams less than two points behind.
McGuirk Arena was absolutely rocking with more than 3,000 fans as the three Rochester schools went back-to-back-to-back in the third round – first Stoney Creek, then Adams, then Rochester – to decide the title.
All three delivered nearly flawless performances, executing every stunt and basket toss with precision, with every flyer strong at the top.
“What you have to understand is that it’s not like this just at state,” said Stoney Creek coach Tricia Williams, who is in her 21st season. “We do this on almost a weekly basis, so we feel this same pressure and we get better at learning how to handle it. Today, our girls handled it wonderfully.”
Adams actually posted the best score of the three schools in the final round, which was enough to leapfrog 2023 champion Rochester for second place but not enough to overtake Stoney Creek, which was slightly better than Adams in both Round 1 and Round 2.
“There’s a lot of attention on Round 3, but it takes all three rounds,” explained Williams, who is assisted by Andrea Cairns, Kayla Kenan, Jessica Ma and Susan Wood. “Against this good of competition, we have to be as perfect as we can in every round.”
While some cheer teams check the standings between each round and possibly adjust their strategy accordingly, the Cougars absolutely do not look at the scores.
“That’s one of our values as a team is not knowing the score,” explained senior Abby DeGraw. “We don’t think it makes sense to change the way that we’re performing. We just try to do our best each round and let the score take care of itself.”
That strategy worked to perfection Friday, as Stoney Creek went out with wins at Regionals and Finals after finishing second in the conference behind Rochester and second at Districts behind Adams. The Cougars’ winning score of 792.98 on Friday was just shy of their season-best of 793.56, which was good for second place at Districts.
Seniors Alison Kalaj and DeGraw, both returning all-staters, are two of the leaders for Stoney Creek, along with Cahill (second team in 2023) and Ariana Rabaut (honorable mention).
Other seniors for the Cougars were Kacey Bauer, Gracie Darling, Sofia Finazzo, Lily Leone, Laura Machak, Helena Merritt and Jane Stabnick.
Adams, which took home the runner-up trophy for the second-straight year after a three-peat as champions from 2020 to 2022, nearly roared back for the title with the best Round 3 score (322.10).
“I would say that was our best Round 3, not only of the season, but in years,” said 10th-year Adams coach Brooke Miller, who had just five seniors and just one returning all-state honoree in Lily Hittle (honorable mention). “They nailed it. They couldn’t have done any more.”
Miller and Williams exchanged a hug after the awards ceremony, full of mutual respect, and both expect the three-way Rochester rivalry to continue for the foreseeable future.
“The bottom line is that these three schools are pushing each other to be amazing,” said Miller. “It’s tenths of a point that you’re fighting for, and that forces you to be the best coach and the best athlete that you can be.”
Hartland placed fourth, followed by Macomb L’Anse Creuse North and Brighton.
PHOTOS (Top) Rochester Hills Stoney Creek competes during Friday’s Division 1 Finals at McGuirk Arena. (Middle) The Cougars celebrate their championship. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)