Advance All-Area Competitive Cheer Team

The Grandville competitive cheer team captured its sixth Division 1 state championship, and first since 2011, achieving their goal set immediately after coming just 2.42 points short in 2014. Four Grandville seniors were selected to the All-Area Competitive Cheer first team.

Allison Day (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

ALLISON DAY

East Kentwood, Senior

Allison earned all-state recognition all four years, while competing in all three rounds. After losing 11 seniors from last year’s team, Allison helped “bring out the fire” in the younger members, who improved enough to reach the D-1 regionals.

“Allison is an incredible athlete and she could have done many other sports, and decided on competitive cheer,” Kentwood coach Stacy Sheler said. “Her height and athleticism make her an outstanding cheerleader. Her vertical jump not only helps in making her jumps outstanding, but she is also a standout in high jump in track.”

Teasia Hood (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

TEASIA HOOD

East Kentwood, Senior

The Falcons’ other co-captain, Teasia is an outstanding athlete and an exceptionally strong back spot.

“Her strength and athleticism also helps with her jumps and motions and power that she brings in all three rounds. I have seen her leadership grow, her athleticism become fierce and unstoppable, and her passion for cheer grow beyond what I ever could have imagined,” East Kentwood coach Stacy Geerts said. “She is a born leader and has more leadership ability then anyone I have ever coached.”

Jasmine Martinez (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

JASMINE MARTINEZ

Grandville, Senior

Growth spurts shifted Jasmine from flyer to back spot, but because of her ability to do an extended needle -- standing on one leg with the other leg straight up in the air next to her ear --.she was utilized as a flyer in Grandville’s opening sequence last year. And before heading off to cheer at Central Michigan University, the Bulldogs stationed her as the focused flyer with their last stunt en route to the Division 1 state title.

“It’s kind of a statement -- we wanted to see her in the air one last time,” Grandville coach Smith-Boyd said. “Jasmine has a passion for our sport. She was trained as a gymnast, so that is her strength. But she is a very hard worker and is relentless in her pursuit of excellence.”

Trisha Merriman (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

TRISHA MERRIMAN

Grandville, Senior

A gifted flyer who comes from a family of athletic achievers, Trisha competed with the Grandville varsity in all three rounds since her freshman year. A 4.0 student, she was named academic all-state all four years and was a recipient of the Lake Michigan Competitive Cheer Officials Association (LMCCOA) scholarship this season.

“Trisha is very dedicated to our cheer program and has contributed many, many hours to our school district over these last four years,” Grandville coach Julie Smith-Boyd said. “Trisha is helpful to her teammates and is always looking for ways to improve her own performance and our team's performance. She leads by the example she sets and is hard-working, positive, and driven to succeed.”

Brianna Pincombe (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

BRIANNA PINCOMBE

Comstock Park, Senior

The Pincombe sisters helped Comstock Park capture conference, district, and regional titles in each of the past four seasons. Brianna, the Panthers’ center jumper and a fourth-year flyer, often grabs and holds the crowd’s attention during Comstock Park meets.

“Bri is the person that will go around and encourage everyone.  She loves to stunt and tumble, and she is amazing at it,” Comstock Park Kathy Felty said. “Not long ago, I was told by another coach, ‘I could watch her stunt all day; it is so beautiful’. Her tumbling passes in Round 3 are what most people see. Not many -- if any -- in the state can do the pass she does.”

SAMANTHA SALLIOTTE

Grandville, Senior

Following a four-year varsity career at Grandville, this senior base will take her well-rounded cheerleading abilities to Oklahoma State University next season. Samantha is particularly skilled in Round 2, where she has competed since her freshman year.

“Sam has the best arm-motion technique on our team. We measured everyone else’s motions against Sam’s,” Grandville coach Julie Smith-Boyd said. “She loves competing and performing, and she was an excellent leader. Her experiences these last four years enabled her to lead the younger girls through a long and demanding season.”

STEPHANIE SMITH

Hudsonville, Senior

Stephanie exceled as the Eagles’ front center in the first two rounds, and as an incredibly strong side base in Round 3. A 4.052 student in the classroom, Stephanie plans to cheer and major in Nursing at Grand Valley State University.

“Stephanie has incredible jumps, motions, tumbling, and floor presence,” Hudsonville coach Amanda Isenga said. “She is an amazing leader who set the bar high with her work ethic, drive, and determination. She has a positive attitude and always kept the team focused on our goals.”

JORDAN STELLINI

Kenowa Hills, Junior

Part of Kenowa Hills’ four-member leadership committee this season, Jordan helped the Knights end a two-year drought and return to the Division 2 state meet at the DeltaPlex Arena. Jordan has competed as a flyer with the varsity team all three seasons there thus far.

“Jordan stepped up this year as a leader for us,” Kenowa Hills coach Chris Hudson said. “She is real athletic and is a great leader who always pushes the other kids to get better.”

Brooke Veldman (Brian Forde | Advance Newspapers)

BROOKE VELDMAN

Jenison, Senior

With the Veldman twins mirroring each other as flyers since their freshman year, the Wildcats qualified for the Division 1 regionals each of the past two seasons. Having virtually grown up around cheerleading, Brooke will continue her passion at Davenport University, a two-time national champion.

“Brooke has some great gymnastics skills in terms of being able to land things as close to perfect as possible. She is a great flyer and jumper,” Jenison coach Rachel DeVries said. “Both of (the Veldman twins) are always striving to enhance the skill level of their stunt groups.”

Abby Warsen (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

ABBY WARSEN

Grandville, Senior

Unable to compete in last year’s state finals due to a foot injury, Abby was especially motivated to make it back to the finals for a chance to perform with her teammates one last time. A three-time academic all-state recipient, Abby maintains a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and plans to study Engineering at the University of Michigan.

“She helped make up our material and was a driving force behind our success this year. She worked especially hard in the weight room and at practice,” Grandville coach Julie Smith-Boyd said. “A great role model and driven to succeed, Abby set the tone at practice of working hard and accepting nothing but everyone’s best effort.”

SECOND TEAM:

Kelsie Barnhart, Comstock Park; Melissa Baughn, Forest Hills; Brooke Brandt, Hudsonville; Teasia Hood, East Kentwood; Tyra Hunt, East Kentwood; Allison Myers, Grandville; Sabrina Pincombe, Comstock Park; Katie Roberts, Grandville; Kelsey Russell, Grandville; Brianna Veldman, Jenison; Ciboney Woods, East Kentwood.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Amanda Adams, Hudsonville; Sabrina Arnone, Comstock Park; Brittany Boomers, Forest Hills; Mackenzie Brower, Grandville; Lauren DeYoung, Hudsonville; Skyler Dochod, Kenowa Hills; Alexis Donley, Comstock Park; Lauren Gantz, Rockford; Hannah Gohl, Rockford; Maddy Gumbko, Forest Hills; Kayla Impellizzeri, Kenowa Hills; Jacqueline Kessel, GR Christian; Mary Matthews, Jenison; Kylee McManus, Hudsonville; Donna McPheron, Grandville; Ashley Miller, Caledonia; Lisa Nguyen, Jenison; Hayley Robinson, Comstock Park; Brooke Rynkar, East Kentwood; Gabby Saum, East Kentwood; Kayley Schuitema, Grandville; Abby Shuck, East Kentwood; Mathilda Stocke, Cedar Springs; Miriam VanHarn, GR Christian; Kelly Weiss, Catholic Central.