Stoney Creek Finishes Climb with Sweep
March 1, 2019
By Tom Kendra
Special for Second Half
GRAND RAPIDS – Back in January, it didn’t look like this would be the breakthrough year for Rochester Hills Stoney Creek competitive cheer.
But the Cougars hit their stride at just the right time, overcoming a second-place conference finish by winning MHSAA District and Regional titles, then capping off their dream run with a Division 1 Finals championship Friday at the Delta Plex.
“I have a lot of different emotions right now, but the best one is knowing that our hard work over the past nine months has paid off,” said Stoney Creek senior Mandy Lilla after the emotional win in front of more than 3,000 spectators.
Stoney Creek posted the highest score from the eight-team field in all three rounds, adding up to an impressive total of 792.72 and edging neighbor and Oakland Activities Association Red rival Rochester Adams (788.90). Grandville placed third at 787.18.
The title was the second for Stoney Creek, which also won Division 1 in 2010.
The Cougars have had a solid program ever since, with a fourth-place finish last winter, but were never able to get back to the top spot until Friday night.
Tricia Williams, in her 17th season as Stoney Creek’s coach, said the maturity of this year’s team enabled the Cougars to continually improve.
“I could see this team growing week after week,” said Williams, who is assisted by Angela Gaabo. “We had a wonderful group of seniors and captains. January was not our month, but those seniors made sure that everyone stayed positive and kept tightening things up.”
The Cougars showed they were ready for business at the District with a 793.78 score, the best District total in the state. They followed that up with a Regional win and then took control of the Finals starting in Round 1.
Leading by almost four points heading into Round 3, Stoney Creek delivered a near-flawless final round performance under pressure, excelling in coordination, vocals and floor mobility, while adding many skill points with a series of stunts and lifts. In the process, the Cougars denied Grandville and Rochester Adams, the final two teams to compete in Round 3, the chance for a comeback.
It marked the second straight year that Rochester Adams took second, after coming up just short last year to Sterling Heights Stevenson. In fact, the Highlanders finished first or second in every competition this season.
“We had an amazing season,” said Brooke Miller, in her fifth year as Adams’ coach. “Everyone is so good in our conference that it just makes us all better. We overcame a lot of things today, including an injury in Round 1, so I’m very proud of our finish.”
Stoney Creek and Adams, competitive rivals all year, shared a special moment on the mat after the trophy and medals presentations – with hugs and congratulations all around.
“So many of those girls are friends and they all work so hard, so that was great to see,” Miller said.
Williams had a brief moment alone with the championship trophy, before getting swarmed by her blue-and-gold clad team.
The Division 1 title was especially sweet for the Cougars’ seven seniors – Claire Heritage, Renee Kehren, Lilla, Sophia Lipuma, Lauren Orlando, Elizabeth Vacante and Olivia Zajac.
“It feels incredible because these girls are my second family,” said Heritage, one of four captains along with Lilla and juniors Sophia Seneker and Lindsey Zanchetta. “We went through the highs and the lows together, but we always stayed positive and supported each other.”
Brighton and Grand Blanc tied for fourth place, followed by 2018 champion Sterling Heights Stevenson, Utica Eisenhower and Hartland.
PHOTOS: (Top) Rochester Hills Stoney Creek scored the highest in all three rounds at Friday's Division 1 Finals. (Middle) Rochester Adams followed its rival with its second straight runner-up finish.
Notre Dame Prep Accepts Challenge, Caps Undefeated Season Back on Top
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2025
MOUNT PLEASANT – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep has been so close, so many times over the past six years.
This year, second-year coach Jocelyn Welsh challenged her talented team to take it to the next level.
“I pushed them past their comfort zone every day in practice,” explained Welsh, who took over the Notre Dame program in 2023 after serving as an assistant at Division 1 powerhouse Rochester Adams. “Staying at your comfort zone is not going to get you any better. You have to do the things that are uncomfortable, and these girls were willing to do that.”
That chip on their shoulder proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon, as the Irish posted the best score in all three rounds to claim a decisive victory at the Division 3 Competitive Cheer Finals at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
Notre Dame Prep won with a three-round total of 784.22, holding off a challenge from Grosse Ile (781.62). Perennial power Richmond (778.52) placed third, and Armada (768.96) was fourth.
The victory capped an unbeaten season for the Irish, who were the favorites coming in after winning District and Regional titles.
Notre Dame is certainly one of the state’s top programs, having won five consecutive Division 3 titles from 2014 to 2018. However, the Irish have not won since that streak was snapped – finishing second four of the past six years, including the past two behind Croswell-Lexington.
“We should have won it last year, but we didn’t get it done,” said Notre Dame senior Paige Marlinga, a returning second-team all-stater. “Not winning it last year really lit a fire under us.”
Senior Leila Mains, a returning honorable mention all-state choice, said that ever since this team’s first summer practice, breaking through and ending the six-year title drought was the team’s sole focus.
“Our expectation was to get here and to win,” said Mains, one of seven seniors on the 28-athlete roster. “We finished the job today, and it feels great.”
Notre Dame has battled Richmond for supremacy in Division 3 for years, and the Blue Devils were in the mix again Saturday. One team that was not there was two-time reigning Division 3 champion Croswell-Lexington, which placed fifth in the loaded Hartland Regional on Feb. 22.
Stepping up to challenge ND this year was Grosse Ile, a historically strong cheer program which has won two Finals titles but hasn’t finished in the top two since 2010.
“When I took over the program eight years ago, my goal was to re-establish that standard of getting here and competing for the title,” said Grosse Ile coach Angie Raithel.
The Red Devils have risen to the challenge, finishing third last season and second this time – going before Notre Dame in Round 3 and putting the pressure on the favorite with an inspired final-round routine.
“We had a lot of fun choreographing a difficult Round 3,” said Raithel, whose team was led by seniors Marissa Trombley, Virginnia West, Arianna Bianchi and Avelinn Flynn. “We are working toward that top spot, but second place is awesome and we are proud to carry this trophy back to the island.”
The title was Notre Dame’s sixth overall, along with five runner-up finishes. The previous five titles all came under longtime coach Beth Campbell.
Leading the Irish back to the top this winter was senior Grace Kinkade, a returning first-team all-stater, and second team choices Gabrielle Phillips, Jenna Robin and Marlinga. Sophomore Eva Thomas was a returning honorable mention choice.
The Irish led from wire-to-wire Saturday, taking control after Round 1 and then capping the day by executing a challenging Round 3 under extreme pressure.
“We decided at the beginning of this year that we were really going to push ourselves – to be more like a Division 1 team, to be honest,” said Welsh. “We won it with an incredible Round 3, which was very difficult.
“But that’s what these girls wanted.”
PHOTOS (Top) Eventual champion Pontiac Notre Dame Prep competes during Saturday's Division 3 Final. (Middle) Grosse Ile takes the mat during its run to a runner-up finish.