Soaring Stevenson Building On Big Finish
February 13, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The best parts of last season never really ended for the Sterling Heights Stevenson competitive cheer team.
And to look at it another way, this season’s fabulous run got its start during the closing weeks of last year’s march to a Division 1 runner-up finish.
With only one senior a year ago, Stevenson came in second to champion Rochester, after taking third at the MHSAA Finals in 2016 and seventh in 2015.
But taking that next step was only part of the motivation for the Titans – the MHSAA/Applebee’s statewide “Team of the Month” for January. Just as important was a commitment made two weeks before last season’s championship meet, when a group of leaders – including many who are now finishing four-year varsity careers – told the rest of their teammates they would all be coming back this winter, and they would pick right back up where they left off.
“We used that right from the start this season,” said coach Brianna Verdoodt, who is in her 13th season leading the program. “We’ve pushed just as hard as last season, but this year is cool. We can be super intense, but we have so many more opportunities to love on them too, which is what you go into coaching to do. This year is the most fun year of coaching I’ve had because of that.”
Stevenson enters Saturday’s District at Warren Mott with the top scores in Division 1 this season for every round – 238.3, 233.4 and 322.1, respectively – and overall at 792.2. The top-ranked Titans’ average score of 785.3 is nine points better than the second-highest in Division 1 and more than four points higher than any team in any division this winter.
And they owned January. First came a Division 1-2 and overall win at the Richmond Invitational, where they scored 10 more points than the reigning Division 3 runner-up Blue Devils. Stevenson bested the field at its Titan Invitational on Jan. 20, finishing three points ahead of current No. 3-ranked Rochester Adams in Division 1 and posting the highest score against an overall field that also included reigning Division 3 champ Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Richmond and Division 2 No. 5 Southgate Anderson.
A week later, Stevenson won the Lake Orion Invitational, finishing 2.5 points better than runner-up Rochester in the Division 1 competition and posting the top score regardless of division against a field that again included Notre Dame Prep, plus reigning Division 2 champion Allen Park and runner-up Gibraltar Carlson.
But it was actually part of a second-place showing to start the season that added another rev to the Titans’ drive this winter. Stevenson finished second at its first competition, the Troy Invitational on Dec. 9, but Verdoodt posted her team’s three rounds on Facebook – and the Round 1 has more than 1 million views, tons of positive comments and shares that took the routine all over the world.
Verdoodt thinks another second-place finish has come right at the right time as well. Although the Titans clinched the Macomb Area Conference Red championship, they finished second to No. 7-ranked Warren Cousino in the final league competition last week.
The next day’s practice was the team’s best practice all season, Verdoodt said.
“It brought it back home for them – they haven’t won anything yet, nothing that matters,” Verdoodt said. “It was wonderful. It needed to happen, and I’d rather it happen now.”
Last year’s pep talk helped take the pressure off heading into the biggest meets because nearly the entire team would have another chance to compete together. This team of 22 athletes includes 10 seniors – and after having to press some directly into varsity action from junior high last winter, Verdoodt has been able to get more creative because of her team’s added strength and experience.
Lily Juncaj, Izzie Nitecki, Grace Broadworth and Carolina Poliss are all seniors who made the all-state first team last season, and total nine athletes from last year's team earned some level of all-state recognition.
The perspective will be different this time with so many seniors finishing their high school careers – and the opportunity to win the first cheer championship in school history surely will be a motivator in the three weeks to come.
“They just get it. They all knew what it felt like to take second place in the state, coming from a team that if you’d seen at the beginning of (last) season – Good Lord,” Verdoodt said. “They were so excited about that.
“But then they kinda realized, ‘Hey, we can actually do this.’”
Past Teams of the Month, 2017-18
December: Cadillac boys bowling - Report
November: Ottawa Lake Whiteford football - Report
October: Beaverton volleyball - Report
September: Shepherd girls golf - Report
PHOTO: (Top) The Sterling Heights Stevenson competitive cheer team has 22 athletes, including 10 seniors. (Photos courtesy of the Stevenson cheer program.)
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.