Title IX at 50: Paige Miller's Story
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 16, 2022
The Paw Paw competitive cheer team has emerged as one of the state’s powerhouses especially over the last four years – and few people have had a better seat for the program’s rise than Paige Miller. The recently-graduated senior is the daughter of 13-year coach Stefanie Miller, and Paige made the Division 3 all-state first team this past winter for the third time while playing a significant role in the team posting its best Finals finishes in program history for the second-straight season.
Paw Paw finished second at the Division 3 Final in March for the second season in a row, this time just a point behind champion Richmond after coming within nine-tenths of a point of catching the Blue Devils in 2021. Miller will continue to cheer at Trine University, where she will study psychology and also compete in track & field after running on her team’s 400 and 800 relays and high jumping this past spring.
"I think it's provided me with a lot of essential skills that extend beyond the aspect of sports. It's provided me with the ability to talk and interact with others in a productive way. It allows me to push myself and others into a positive direction and also to know how to work as a team and collaborate effectively. Without sports, I don't know if I would've learned those lessons as deeply as I have.
“I’ve had some experiences, with my cheer teams, we've done tumble clinics or clinics to build up the younger program. And I'll be out at like the grocery store, and one of the little girls from the tumble clinic with come up and (say), ‘You're a Paw Paw cheerleader. I love everything you guys do. You're so cool. I want to be you guys when I grow up.’ And it's an amazing feeling to be someone that somebody looks up to.”
Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.
Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights
Oct. 4: Ruby Whitehorn's Story - Read
Sept. 27: Eliana Bommarito's Story - Read
Sept. 20: Anna Tracey's Story - Read
Sept. 13: Lola Korpi's Story - Read
Sept. 6: Meah Bajt's Story - Read
Aug. 30: Morgan Brunner's Story - Read
Aug. 23: Ava Brizard's Story - Read
Aug. 16: Paige Miller's Story - Read
Aug. 9: Gracie Olsen's Story - Read
Aug. 2: Maddy Stern's Story - Read
July 26: Reese Miller's Story - Read
July 19: Macy Irelan's Story - Read
July 12: Bridget Boczar's Story - Read
July 5: Ella Boose's Story - Read
June 28: Kaila Jackson's Story - Read
June 23: We Celebrate Our Past, We Look Forward to Our Future - Read
June 21: Assistant Directors Have Been Difference Makers - Read
June 14: Girls Lacrosse Finals Officials Set Empowering Example - Read
June 7: From Gymnastics to Wrestling, Girls Opportunities Continue to Grow - Read
May 31: Mumford Sprinter's Magnificent 2006 Final Remains Unmatched - Read
May 24: Scane, Whiteside Alone on 400-Goal, 500-Point Girls Lacrosse Lists - Read
May 17: Over 8 Days in 1988, Pair of Champs Set No. 1 Singles Standard - Read
May 10: Portage Central's Tarpley Scores as State's Superstar, U.S. Soccer Hero - Read
May 3: Prychitko 'Legend In Her Own Time,' Legend for All Time - Read
April 26: Braddock vs. Verdun Still Striding Among All-Time Sprint Matchups - Read
April 19: Holmes' Strikeout Record Rarely Approached, May Be Unbreakable - Read
April 12: Anticipation High as 45,000 Girls Return to Spring Sports - Read
April 5: Regina's Laffey Retiring as Definition of Legendary - Read
March 29: Edison's Whitehorn named 2022 Miss Basketball - Read
March 22: Carney-Nadeau Sets Girls Hoops Standard with 78-Win Streak - Read
March 15: Binder Among Voices Telling Our Story on MHSAA Network - Read
March 8: 29 Years, Thousands of Cheers - Read
March 1: Kearsley Rolls On Among Girls Bowling's Early Successes - Read
Feb. 22: Marquette Ties Record for Swim & Dive Finals Success - Read
Feb. 15: Jaeger's 2004 Winter Run Created Lasting Connection - Read
Feb. 8: Marian's Cicerone to Finish Among All-Time Elite - Read
Feb. 1: WISL Award Honors Builders of State's Girls Sports Tradition - Read
Jan. 25: Decades Later, Edwards' Legend Continues to Grow - Read
Jan. 18: Iron Mountain Completes Championship Climb - Read
Jan. 11: Harrold's Achievement Heralds Growth of Girls Wrestling - Read
Dec. 20: Competitive Cheer Gives Michigan Plenty to Cheer About - Read
Dec. 14: Evelyn's Game Had Plenty of Magic - Read
Dec. 7: Council Term Ends, But Leinaar Leaves Lasting Impact - Read
Nov. 30: Basketball Season Ready to Add to Rich Tradition - Read
Nov. 23: Marysville Builds Winning Streak Yet to be Challenged - Read
Nov. 16: Wroubel Has Championed Girls School Sports from Their Start - Read
Nov. 9: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History - Read
Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
Oct. 12: Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
Oct. 5: Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read
Hudson Starts Slow, Bounces Back to Finish in Championship Fashion
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
MOUNT PLEASANT – Hudson certainly has not been cocky this season despite ending last winter by winning a fourth-straight Division 4 competitive cheer championship.
In fact, the Tigers were the opposite.
“The girls lacked confidence this year, to be honest,” said Hudson coach Kelly Bailey, who has guided the program 28 seasons. “That was actually our biggest obstacle to overcome.”
It didn’t help that the Tigers got off to a slow start in Friday’s Final – they sat in fourth place after the first round. But that just set the stage for a powerhouse performance during the final two rounds, as Hudson rolled to its fifth consecutive Division 4 title at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
Hudson won with 746.30 points, followed by Pewamo-Westphalia (736.42) and Michigan Center (733.94).
“I told them after the first round that they were in fourth place, and their jaws dropped,” said Bailey. “But they like to perform in the more athletic rounds, 2 and 3, so I really wasn’t worried.
“Anxious? Yes. Worried? Not really.”
Led by returning all-state seniors Rylie Bloomer and Victoria Hawkins, the Tigers easily made up their 4.1-point first-round deficit with a strong Round 2.
That set the stage for Round 3, where Hudson was the only one of the eight teams to eclipse 300 points (300.40). Near the end of that round, when part of its cheer was, “We will keep our crown,” it was clear that those words would be prophetic.
“Honestly, I was really nervous, but now I’m really happy,” said Bloomer, one of six seniors on Hudson’s 20-athlete varsity roster. “I like to know where we stand after each round, good or bad. It doesn’t really affect anything, because we still have to go out and do our best.”
Hudson now has finished either first or second in Division 4 for eight straight years, with six titles.
This year’s team – which featured six seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen – took a little bit longer to get rolling, with its highest scores of the season coming in victories at the District and Regional.
In addition to Bloomer and Hawkins, the other returning all-stater for Hudson was junior Jayla Bright. Senior Kayden Rogers made second team all-state in 2023, and senior Paige Clark and junior Courtney Rodifer were honorable mention.
“There is always so much pressure on us, every year, so it’s amazing to overcome that and win it again,” said Hawkins.
The Tigers’ other seniors were Callia Cooper and Eliza Pack.
The last team to win a Division 4 title before Hudson’s five-year streak was Pewamo-Westphalia, which was back in the mix Friday and finished second for the third time over the past five years – despite having just one senior, returning second team all-stater Sophia Simon.
The Pirates used an inspired Round 3 performance to rally past Michigan Center and capture the runner-up hardware.
“We have such a young team, and they have put their blood, sweat and tears into this season,” said P-W coach Staci Myers, who completed her 17th year leading the program. “They knocked it out of the park in that third round, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Pirates, who were led by Simon and sophomore returning honorable mention all-stater Karsyn Simmon, won District and Regional crowns leading up to Friday’s strong finish.
Merrill placed fourth and Sanford Meridian was fifth Friday.
PHOTOS (Top) Hudson competes during Friday’s Division 4 Final at CMU. (Middle) Pewamo-Westphalia competes on the way to finishing runner-up. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)