Standing on top: Stoney Creek emerges as victor at Lake Orion cheer invite

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

LAKE ORION — In today’s era of competitive cheer, many teams are somewhat equal in the first two rounds of competition. It’s the third round where the elite begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

Rochester Stoney Creek did just that Saturday afternoon during the marathon Lake Orion Invitational.

In a Division 1 field that featured six of the top 10 teams in the state, Stoney Creek emerged the victor, collecting a three-round total of 807.1664 points, a season-high, to topple the 14-school field. The Cougars, who entered the week ranked eighth in the state in Division 1, rose to the top on this day to prove that they are truly amongst the state’s top teams this season.

STANDING TALL: Ortonville Brandon's cheer team took third in the Division 2 field at Saturday's Lake Orion Invitational. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Stoney Creek’s total was less than a point ahead of host Lake Orion’s 806.7872. Southgate Anderson was third (803.6232), followed by Sterling Heights Stevenson (801.8624), Rochester Adams (799.4152), Utica Eisenhower (779.7200), Rochester (779.1448), Warren Cousino (776.5376), Troy (764.2696) and Holland West Ottawa (754.8312) in the top 10.

Eight schools were within five points of one another heading into the finals. Stoney Creek and Lake Orion were the crispest in their stunt round routines to pull ahead from the pack to claim the top two spots.

“This is what they needed today. They have been working so hard this season,” offered Stoney Creek coach Tricia Williams. “But now it goes beyond having the skills, having the choreography, it’s all about becoming consistent. To be able to come out when the pressure is on and perform like they did in Round III means a lot going into some really big weeks to come.”

With the league, district, regional and state finals all scheduled across the state over the next five weeks, Stoney Creek appears to be peaking at the right time.

SIMPLE AS 1-2-3: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep's team score of 734.9920 points was good enough for runner-up honors in the Division 3-4 field at Saturday's Lake Orion Invite. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Stoney Creek scored 321.900 points in Round III, just ahead of Lake Orion’s 320.000. Stevenson had 316.900 points in the round, with Southgate (316.900) and Rochester Adams (314.400) following closely behind.

IN FLIGHT: Rochester Adams' cheer team goes through its Round III routine during Saturday's Lake Orion Invitational. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

“This was our best performance of the year,” offered Lake Orion coach Nancy DeAvila. “That’s all I can ask f them, is that we keep getting better each week.”

In a day where multiple schools felt like they had a chance to win, Stoney Creek rose to the top on a day where there was no room for error.

“It really doesn’t matter if your first or eighth going into (Round III), it’s you have to be at your best, in every round nowadays,” added Williams. “There are so many good teams.”

In Division 2, Gibraltar Carlson cruised to the win with 785.2024 points, well ahead of Dearborn Divine Child (760.2592). Ortonville Brandon (759.6408), Allen Park (746.4200) and Wyandotte Roosevelt (735.7380) rounded out the top five.

In Division 3-4, Richmond’s 749.2220 points won the title by nearly 15 points over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (734.920). Grosse Ile was third (731.3832), Croswell-Lexington fourth (690.8248) and Algonac fifth (600.5124).

Richmond, ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 3, is coached by former Lake Orion head coach Kelli Mathes. The veteran Mathes was part of the first Lake Orion Invitational in 1995.

IN UNISON: Rochester;s cheer team stuts its stuff during the second round of the Lake Orion Invitational. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

“It was a long time ago. I think we had something like five schools and it was in (the old high school building),” she recalled. “It’s amazing to see how big this event has become. There are so many great (programs) here, and so many ranked schools. It is one of the bigger invitational in the state.

“That being said, it means a lot for us to win this event,” continued Mathes. “I thought we did a great job. We had a couple of other ranked teams in Division 3 and Division 4 and we were able to rise up.”

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CRISP AND CLEAN: Rochester Stoney Creek's third round was nearly flawless and that vaulted the Cougars to the top of the Division 1 field at Saturday''s Lake Orion Invitational..

* Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.

(To report varsity results, e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com or dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com )

WITH ATTITUDE: Troy's competitive cheer team let it all out during the Division 1 competition at the Lake Orion Invitational. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE SURE: Lake Orion competed with plenty of confidence at its 17th annual Lake Orion Invitational and earned runner-up honors in Division 1. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Tags: Competitive Cheer, featured, High School Competitive Cheer, Lake Orion Invitational, Prep Competitive Cheer

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