Stevenson Returns, Leaves as D1 Champion
March 2, 2018
By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half
GRAND RAPIDS -- Sterling Heights Stevenson competitive cheer coach Brianna Verdoodt clutched the hardware in her hands as tightly as she could.
“I’m sleeping with this tonight,” Verdoodt declared after her team made school history Friday at the MHSAA Division 1 Final at the DeltaPlex.
The top-ranked Titans concluded a dominating season by winning the program’s first state championship.
Stevenson tallied a three-round total of 793.22 and outlasted runner-up Rochester Adams, which finished at 790.82.
“I could not have written a better story of how this season has gone for us,” Verdoodt said. “We lost only one senior last year, so it was first time we had literally every single girl coming back. So the year started out totally different.
“We could be tough, but still love on them, and we kept pushing just as hard because we knew that we wanted this.”
The Titans placed second to Rochester a year ago and third in 2016. Last season’s was their first runner-up finish at the Finals since 2011.
“We knew we wanted a little bit more this year,” Verdoodt said. “Last year was unexpected with nine freshmen, and making it to the state finals was huge – and runner-up was just like icing on the cake.”
Stevenson capped off an incredible season that included a Macomb Area Conference Red championship and winning all but one competition.
“This is probably the best feeling of my life,” Stevenson senior Anna Long said. “I’ve been working four years to win a state championship, and this is just the best day of my life. We were all confident that we had a shot because this is the best this team has ever been, so we knew it could be done.”
The Titans drew motivation from last year’s finish, and that experience paid off for the veteran group.
“We were so close with a young team and now we’re here, state champs,” Titans senior Carolina Poliss said. “It’s crazy to be the first because we’ve been striving for years for this, and we’re doing something Stevenson has never done before.”
Stevenson trailed Adams by two tenths of a point after Round 1, but jumped into the lead with a solid Round 2 that delivered a high score of 232.72.
All that was left was Round 3, and the Titans punctuated the win with a stirring effort that combined flexibility, strength and agility.
It resulted in another high score, 322.20.
“I was a flyer in high school and I’m crazy about flexibility and things that set us apart from other people,” Verdoodt said. “We have a couple different things in our Round 3 that look odd to a normal cheer person.
“Round 3 is just a fun one, and we hold them to really high standards for all positions so they can go out and do a performance like that under pressure.”
Long said there was a sense of calm that overtook the team before its final round.
“We’re usually nervous, but we were all really confident this time and it was a different confidence than normal,” she said. “We were all really focused, and I feel like we all knew that all we had to do was hit Round 3 and show we wanted it with heart. Then we knew we could win, because our other rounds were so strong.”
Adams’ runner-up finish was its first in more than two decades. The Highlanders placed second to Rochester in Class A in 1996.
“It feels like first; it really does,” Adams coach Brooke Miller said. “They’ve worked so hard for this, and they’ve definitely fought for everything they’ve done today.”
The Highlanders, who finished fifth last season in their first trip to the Finals in 20 years, had 10 seniors leading the way.
“They really wanted it, and they did everything they could possibly do to get it,” Miller said. “We had nothing to lose tonight, and we wanted to go out there and have fun and let these 10 seniors have the best day yet.”
Two-time reigning champion Rochester took third (789.70), while Grand Blanc and Rochester Hills Stoney Creek rounded out the top five.
PHOTOS: (Top) Sterling Heights Stevenson hoists its first Finals championship trophy in competitive cheer. (Middle) Rochester Adams celebrates its runner-up finish.
Preview: Reigning Champs Highlight Familiar Finals Field Returning to CMU
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 29, 2024
As the MHSAA Competitive Cheer Finals returns to Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena for the second-straight season this weekend, and to its past Friday-Saturday schedule, there is a sense of familiarity – and that’s bolstered even more by 24 of last year’s 32 contenders also returning to CMU.
Hudson in Division 4 is seeking a fifth-straight Finals title, while Rochester in Division 1, Gibraltar Carlson in Division 2 and Croswell-Lexington in Division 3 also are pursuing repeat championships.
Meanwhile, we will welcome Hanover-Horton to the Finals for the first time, and Plainwell and North Muskegon for the first time for both in more than two decades.
Division 4 leads off the weekend at 2 p.m. Friday, followed by Division 1 at 6 p.m. Division 3 starts Saturday’s competitions at 11 a.m., with Division 2 finishing the weekend at 4 p.m. The full schedule, plus information on purchasing tickets and how to watch online are all available on the Competitive Cheer page of MHSAA.com.
Division 1
BRIGHTON
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Christina Wilson-Peacock, 12th season
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1999.
Top score: 791.2 at Regional.
Team composition: 25 total (seven seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Brighton returned to the Finals last season with a fourth-place finish, and similar to last year have finished second at both its District and Regional over the last two weeks. The Bulldogs have scored at least 783 points in their last five competitions. Senior Autumn Miller made the all-state first team last season, while seniors Estella Marchesotti and Brooke Lampkins made the second and junior Adrianna Pembroke earned honorable mention.
GRANDVILLE
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Julie Smith-Boyd, 43rd season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), 10 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 789.32 at Regional.
Team composition: 33 total (17 seniors, three juniors, nine sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: After having only two seniors on last year’s team, Grandville has 17 from a class that’s gained plenty of experience with Finals finishes of second, seventh and then fifth last season. The Bulldogs have scored at least 783 points in nine of 12 competitions, beginning with a 786.58 at their second this winter. Seniors Lexsee Pawloski and Brie Vanderplow made the all-state second team last season, and senior Emma Leonard earned honorable mention.
HARTLAND
League finish: Second in KLAA
Coach: Candace Fahr, seventh season
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2013.
Top score: 791.96 at Regional.
Team composition: 23 total (eight seniors, eight juniors, six sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: The Eagles finished fourth in 2022 and eighth last season, and they enter this Final as repeat District and Regional champions – and this time having finished ahead of Brighton at both after placing second to the Bulldogs in the league. Hartland has placed first or second at all of its competitions this winter. Senior Molly Woolf made the all-state first team last season, and senior Faith Mikula earned honorable mention.
MACOMB L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Lauren Turner, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 788.26 at Regional.
Team composition: 22 total (10 seniors, six juniors, five sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: L’Anse Creuse North is returning after finishing sixth last year and repeating as a District champion two weeks ago. The Crusaders’ Regional score was nearly five points higher than their next highest this season and placed them fourth behind the Rochester schools at that competition but only 3.12 points off the lead. Senior Lily Nahas made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore Addison Waters earned honorable mention.
ROCHESTER
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Samantha Koehler, second season
Championship history: 15 MHSAA titles (most recent 2023).
Top score: 792.68 at Regional.
Team composition: 26 total (four seniors, 11 juniors, seven sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Rochester returned to the top of Division 1 last season in Koehler’s first leading the program after previously coaching Plymouth, and the Falcons are in position to add to that record championship total. They finished third to the other Rochester schools at the District and Regional, but less than two points off the lead at both. Seniors Madison Carpenter and Lena Cleveland made the all-state first team last season, while senior Sarah Newport and juniors Isabella Gungab and Aubrey Hillard made the second team and senior Kelly Burdick and juniors Morgan Calcagno and Natalia Grabovac earned honorable mentions.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
League finish: Third in OAA Red
Coach: Brooke Miller, 10th season
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022) four runner-up finishes.
Top score: 794.18 at District.
Team composition: 30 total (five seniors, seven juniors, 14 sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Adams finished second last season by nine-tenths of a point, ending a three-year championship streak – but the Highlanders wouldn’t stun anyone by claiming a fourth title over five seasons this weekend. They won their District by 62 hundredths of a point ahead of Stoney Creek, then finished 79 hundredths of a point back in the Regional rematch – and in both cases had the slightly superior Round 3. Senior Lily Hittle earned an all-state honorable mention in 2023.
ROCHESTER HILLS STONEY CREEK
League finish: Second in OAA Red
Coach: Tricia Williams, 21st season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Top score: 793.56 at District
Team composition: 32 total (11 seniors, five juniors, 14 sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: After finishing second in 2022 and third last season, Stoney Creek could take the final steps again this weekend coming off a Regional championship won ahead of the two other Rochester contenders – posting the top Round 1 and 2 scores at that meet. The Cougars have finished first or second at every competition but the first league jamboree. Seniors Abigail DeGraw and Alison Kalaj made the all-state first team last year, while senior Charlotte Cahill made the second team and senior Ariana Rabaut earned an honorable mention.
SOUTH LYON EAST
League finish: Third in Lakes Valley Conference
Coach: Julia Tilt, fifth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 784.1.
Team composition: 20 total (five seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: East competed at its first Finals last season, finishing sixth in Division 2, and to return this weekend emerged from a third-place league finish to place third at its District and fourth at its Regional. The Cougars have twice eclipsed their top score from a year ago, including at the District. Senior Natalie Tilt made the Division 2 all-state second team last season, and senior Jacey Czajkowski earned an honorable mention.
Division 2
ALLEN PARK
League finish: Second in Downriver League
Coach: Julie Goodwin, 20th season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 793.72
Team composition: 23 total (10 seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Allen Park missed winning what would have been a fourth-straight Division 2 championship last season by just 68 hundredths of a point as rival Carlson took back the title. After finishing second to Carlson in the Downriver League this season, Allen Park won their Regional last week by 2.14 points to enter this weekend as arguably the team to chase. Seniors Allison Gombos and Gabrielle Simpson made the all-state first team last season, and junior Abigail Obrycki earned an honorable mention.
CARLETON AIRPORT
League finish: Second in Huron League
Coach: Emily Dusik, second season
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2003.
Top score: 781.0 at Regional.
Team composition: 22 total (five seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, nine freshmen).
Outlook: Dusik has Airport moving in the right direction quickly, as the Jets won their league in 2023 and added a District championship two weeks ago – and now their first trip to the Finals since 2006. Airport won that District by 1.7 points ahead of Carlson before finishing third at the Regional to Allen Park and Carlson last weekend, but with a score six points higher than its previous best this winter. Airport competed in Division 3 last season, with seniors Rylie Armstrong and Breanna Mulvin earning all-region recognition.
CEDAR SPRINGS
League finish: Tied for first in O-K Gold
Coach: Katy Hradsky, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 781.22.
Team composition: 21 total (five seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: After a year away, Cedar Springs is returning to the Finals for the fifth time in six seasons and on a five-competition winning streak that’s included earning District and Regional titles. More than half of the team are underclassmen, and the Red Hawks’ returning all-region honoree from a year ago is among them – sophomore Taylor VerDuin.
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Bishop
Co-coaches: Amber Genevich, 16th season; Michelle McClorey, sixth season
Championship history: Four Finals runner-up finishes (most recent 2014).
Top score: 785.88.
Team composition: 22 total (eight seniors, six juniors, five sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Divine Child moved up from fourth in 2022 to third last season, and the Falcons have surpassed 780 points three times over their last five competitions including to finish runner-up at their District to Allen Park. Senior Noemi Villarruel made the all-state first team last season, while senior Amanda Shumaker made the second team and senior Anna Watson and junior Isabelle Fronczak earned honorable mentions.
GIBRALTAR CARLSON
League finish: First in Downriver League
Coach: Alyssa Tocco, third season
Championship history: 12 MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), seven runner-up finishes.
Top score: 792.34.
Team composition: 22 total (two seniors, seven juniors, five sophomores, eight freshmen).
Outlook: Carlson won its first championship of the Tocco era last season with nine seniors on the team, and she has the Marauders in position to potentially repeat with a team that while younger still has experienced past title winners leading the way. Carlson has scored at least 783 points in all but one competition and broken 791 four times. Juniors Haley Sanchez and Sofia Lanzini made the all-state second team last season.
MIDDLEVILLE THORNAPPLE KELLOGG
League finish: Tied for first in O-K Gold
Coach: Madelynn Lula, first season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 759.52 at Regional.
Team composition: 18 total (eight seniors, two juniors, seven sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: After serving as an assistant for three seasons – and helping MTK return to the Finals last year for the first time since 2015 – Lula took over the program this winter and has the Trojans back after runner-up District and Regional finishes. MTK will look to build on last year’s fifth-place Finals finish after posting two of their three highest overall scores this season in those two meets. Seniors Kenady Smith and Anna Smith made the all-state second team in 2023.
MUSKEGON REETHS-PUFFER
League finish: Second in O-K Green
Coach: Lisabeth Smith, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 737.52.
Team composition: 26 total (five seniors, four juniors, nine sophomores, eight freshmen).
Outlook: Reeths-Puffer has added to its third-straight District title under Smith by reaching the Finals for the second time during her tenure and after missing a year ago. The Rockets won their District this time by nearly 14 points. Kendall Eek, Sydney Williams and Macy Fisher are among seniors finishing up standout careers.
PLAINWELL
League finish: Second in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Kylie Cook, fifth season
Championship history: Class B champion 2000, Class B runner-up 2001.
Top score: 762.9.
Team composition: 19 total (nine seniors, four juniors, six sophomores).
Outlook: Plainwell is returning to the Finals for the first time since 2003, and posted its second-highest score of the season in winning its District two weeks ago. The Trojans have placed third or higher in all of their competitions, and second or first in all but two. Seniors Raya Mergen Henry and Abigale Westerhouse earned all-region recognition last season.
Division 3
ARMADA
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Deanna Misiak, eighth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 786.72 at District.
Team composition: 21 total (eight seniors, five juniors, five sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Armada will attempt to become the sixth-straight and third different Division 3 champion from the BWAC over the last six seasons after winning a league that included reigning champ Croswell-Lexington and 2019-22 title winner Richmond. The Tigers have scored at least 770 points in their last five competitions and edged Richmond for the final qualifying spot from their Regional, earning their first Finals trip since 2015. Senior Katelyn Carrigan earned all-District recognition in 2023.
CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
League finish: Second in BWAC
Coach: Katie Tomlinson, ninth season
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023.
Top score: 790.1.
Team composition: 20 total (seven seniors, nine juniors, three sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: The reigning Division 3 champion was edged by Armada in the league race, but came back to win their District by 3.24 points and Regional by nearly a point. Croswell-Lexington opened the season with a 765.5 overall score and has reached 783 points in its last four competitions, paced by the majority of the team’s standouts from a year ago. Seniors Shelby Oliver, Cora Katulski, Makayla Rice and Alexis Bales and junior Kaleigh Kelch all made the all-state first team last season, with senior Grace Hodges and junior Maggie Wallace are back after making the second team.
GROSSE ILE
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Angela Raithel, eighth season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2010), Division 3 runner-up 2009.
Top score: 786.18 in Regional.
Team composition: 21 total (six seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Grosse Ile placed fourth last season in its first Finals trip since 2014, and this winter won all of its competitions before finishing second at the Regional and just 96 hundredths of a point behind Croswell-Lexington. Junior Virginia West made the all-state first team last season, with senior Elizabeth Adamczyk and junior Avelinn Flynn making the second team and juniors Marissa Trombley and Arianna Bianchi earning honorable mentions.
HOWARD CITY TRI COUNTY
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Jennifer Laskey, 20th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: N/A.
Team composition: 23 total (five seniors, nine juniors, five sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: A large group of upperclassmen are bringing Tri County back to the Finals after the team finished sixth last season. The Vikings placed third at both their District and Regional, topping at least 742 points at both meets. Juniors Tamya Johnson and Cadence Holtzlander and sophomores Briana Cheatham and Violet Bellamy earned all-region honors last season.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
League finish: Tied for first in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Kim Martin, 30th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 771.76.
Team composition: 20 total (nine seniors, five juniors, one sophomore, five freshmen).
Outlook: Lakewood ran its league championship streak to 15 this season and returns to the Finals for the third-straight season, but this time as both a District and Regional champion – the latter for the first time during Martin’s tenure. The Vikings have finished first or second at all of their competitions this winter, and their top score is nearly five points higher than heading into the Finals a year ago. Senior Emily Pilar made the all-state second team last season, and senior Kylie Walkington earned honorable mention.
PAW PAW
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Stefanie Miller, 15th season
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022 and 2021.
Top score: 773.10.
Team composition: 17 total (five seniors, two juniors, seven sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Paw Paw finished fifth last season but was in the championship mix after Round 2, and the Red Wolves have won all but three of their competitions this season including their District. A strong senior lineup brings plenty of Finals experience, with Molly Goodwin a repeat all-state first-teamer last season, Maya Leonard and Madison Lasinski returning after making the second team, and junior Taya Southworth having earned honorable mention in 2023. Senior Naveh Davenport and junior Ashley Olsen made the all-state second team in 2022.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Jocelyn Welsh, first season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), four runner-up finishes.
Top score: 786.86 in District.
Team composition: 23 total (three seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: Welsh previously served as Warren Fitzgerald’s head coach for three seasons and assisted Adams during its championship success, and she took over an NDP program this winter that missed last year’s Division 3 title by seven tenths of a point. The Fighting Irish finished second in their District behind Croswell-Lexington and third at the Regional that also included Grosse Ile and Armada, posting their second-highest score of the season in that competition. Senior Ava Quasarano made the all-state first team last season, while juniors Grace Kinkade and Paige Marlinga made the second team and junior Leila Mains and sophomore Adriana Soave earned honorable mentions.
PORTLAND
League finish: Tied for first in CAAC White
Coach: Mindy Blaschka, 11th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 763.14.
Team composition: 21 total (nine seniors, four juniors, five sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: After making the Finals for the first time in 2022, Portland has earned its third-straight trip and will bring substantial experience after those first two. The Raiders have placed first or second in their last eight competitions, including at the District and Regional, as they seek to build on last season’s seventh-place Finals finish. Senior Autumn Schafer made the all-state second team last season, and senior Ava Adcock earned an honorable mention.
Division 4
HANOVER-HORTON
League finish: Second in Cascades Conference
Coach: Sarah DuBois, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 739.86.
Team composition: 15 total (six juniors, four sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Hanover-Horton is headed to the Finals for the first time after finishing second at its District and third at its Regional. Sarah DuBois doesn’t have a senior, so this could be just the start, and she can supply plenty of experience as a competitive cheer coach for 23 seasons total, the first 20 at Vandercook Lake. Juniors Alexyn DuBois and Reyna Collins earned all-District honors last season.
HUDSON
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Kelly Bailey, 28th season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), six runner-up finishes.
Top score: 766.28 at Regional.
Team composition: 20 total (six seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Hudson is the standard in Division 4, with four straight Finals championships including last year’s won by nearly 26 points. The Tigers have finished first in all but two competitions this season, placing second in those, and their two highest scores have come in claiming District and Regional titles. Seniors Rylie Bloomer and Victoria Hawkins and junior Jayla Bright all made the all-state first team last season, while senior Kayden Rogers made the second team and senior Paige Clark and junior Courtney Rodifer earned honorable mentions.
LAWTON
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Holly James, 11th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 712.56.
Team composition: 13 total (four seniors, one junior, five sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Lawton has finished seventh, third, and then sixth at the Finals over the last three seasons, and a younger team this time has finished first or second in all but two of its competitions this winter with a District victory among highlights. Senior Naomi Barkalow earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and senior Kiera Banks made the first team in 2022.
MERRILL
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Coach: Jena Glazier, fourth season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2014.
Top score: 756.08 at District.
Team composition: 9 total (five seniors, one junior, one sophomore, two freshmen).
Outlook: Merrill is following a strong senior class back to the Finals, with Veda Gagne and Hope Fiting all-state second-team selections a year ago and Samantha Grubaugh and sophomore Carli Breasbois having earned honorable mention in 2023 as the team finished fifth. The Vandals won their District two weeks ago by 24 points and finished third at a Regional that included Hudson and last season’s Finals runner-up Michigan Center.
MICHGAN CENTER
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Co-coaches: Jessica Trefry, 23rd season; Brianna Cash, second season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Top score: 745.98 at Regional.
Team composition: 13 total (four seniors, two juniors, five sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Michigan Center’s runner-up finish last season was its highest at the Finals since 2016, and the Cardinals have finished first or second at all but one competition this season. They finished second to Hudson at their Regional after winning their District the week before, and their four highest scores this season have come in their four most recent meets. Seniors Grayce Sarna and Kate Paterson and junior Emma McIntyre made the all-state first team last season, while junior Gabi Ruhl and sophomore Nora Fleming made the second team.
NORTH MUSKEGON
League finish: Fourth in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Coach: Melody Zziwambazza, second season
Championship history: Class D champion 1997, Class D runner-up 1995 and 1994.
Top score: 697.46 at Regional.
Team composition: 15 total (eight seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: One of the original powers in MHSAA competitive cheer, North Muskegon will compete in its first Final since 2002. Zziwambazza took over the varsity program in January 2023 and has coached the middle school team as well the last few seasons. The Norsemen improved from 10th in their District a year ago to fourth two weeks ago, and added nearly six points to their season-high score from that meet to finish fourth at their Regional and qualify for this weekend.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Staci Myers, 17th season
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), 12 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 752.72 at District.
Team composition: 15 total (one senior, six juniors, six sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: A team with 10 underclassmen among 13 athletes total finished seventh a year ago, and these more experienced Pirates look like strong candidates to push up the standings after winning both their District and Regional with their two highest overall scores of this season. Senior Sophia Simon made the all-state second team last year, and sophomore Karsyn Simmon earned honorable mention.
SANFORD MERIDIAN
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Val MacKenzie, 34th season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2018.
Top score: 751.58 at District.
Team composition: 14 total (one senior, six juniors, two sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Meridian is back at the Finals for the first time since 2019 after also finishing first or second at all but one competition this season. The Mustangs were runner-up to P-W at both their District and Regional, after ending their 2023 season with a fifth-place District finish. Those two most recent meets also saw Meridian post its two highest scores of this season, jumping more than 26 points from their previous best this winter. Juniors Lexi Cryderman, Danica Poston and Angela Nichols all earned all-District recognition in 2023.
PHOTO The Plainwell competitive cheer team competes this season; the Trojans are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2003. (Photo courtesy of the Plainwell competitive cheer program.)