A strong third round performance helped the Lake Orion cheer squad move from fourth to second place Saturday in the annual Lake Orion Invitational.
Their 314.5 round three score was the state’s third highest score all season, as the team leapfrogged both Grandville and Stoney Creek. Rochester took first place, with their 783.1 total score, nearly 16 points ahead of the Dragons.
‘We had personal best scored in all three rounds,? Coach Nancy DeAvila said. ‘The third round cheer was just terrific. The girls really built on the excitement from the crowd.?
In all, 66 teams (including 12 Division 1 varsity squads) came to Lake Orion for the competition.
‘Everything flowed smoothly,? DeAvila noted. ‘All of the Lake Orion teams (middle schools, freshman and junior varsity) performed really well.?
DeAvila said the direct competition with Stoney Creek was a focus in practice for the team, as they fell by less than a point at last Wednesday’s league meet to finish in third place (Rochester again took first).
‘Saturday, we closed the gap from the first two rounds in half,? she said. ‘The kids can see that every round matters.?
DeAvila said that Stoney Creek has one of the state’s best second round routines. Her team was close enough over the weekend to make up the difference with their strong closing routine.
It was also just the second time that the squad had beaten Grandville, and the first time for anyone on the current squad.
‘They’re a powerhouse team in the state,? DeAvila said.
The team heads to Troy Athens for the final OAA I meet this Saturday, an event worth half of the final league standings.
‘They do have something to fight for and prove there,? the coach said, noting the team has finished third in both previous league meets.
The following week, they’ll head to the Delta Plex in Grand Rapids for a meet with most of the state’s elite teams, at the site of the state finals in early March.
‘Every single region will be represented by at least one team,? DeAvila said, adding that as many as eight of the eventual 10 finalists could be there.
She added that because of the regional draws, that meet could end up being tougher than the state meet.