Hartland High School Competitive Cheer Ready to Jump into the Season

By Kathy Coll
Competitive cheer parent

It’s coach Amanda Adkins favorite time of year — same goes for her 27 cheerleaders and their parents. Hartland’s Competitive Cheer Season is here and the first competition is Saturday in the Competitive Cheer Coaches of Michigan Invitational at Stoney Creek High School.

Hartland has an impressive history of success in their cheer program including conference champs for the past seven consecutive years and state final qualifiers in nine of the last 11 seasons. The 2011-12 Hartland High School cheerleading program is determined to continue this winning tradition.

Cheerleading has evolved into a demanding sport with fierce competition. It requires excellent physical conditioning, gymnastic skills, strength, confidence, spot on coordination, determination and most of all, good sportsmanship. Competitions are held throughout the season matching high school teams from across the state. Each team creates and performs three different routines before a panel of judges. The judges evaluate choreography, performance of jumps, stunting, coordination of moves, and of course the volume of the cheer itself.

Hartland cheerleaders practice year round hoping to bring their best to the competitive season. Coach Adkins is very familiar with the rigors of competitive cheer. She was a Hartland Cheerleader as a student and has been part of the coaching staff for several years. In her first season as head coach, she proudly introduced her carsity cheer squad on Nov 9:

Seniors: Natalie Bauer, Jessica Gust, Colleen McGrath, Caitlyn Peca and Courtney Thompson
Juniors: Katie Manley, Nicole Oliverio, Katherine Putz, Carolyn Ventura and Brooke Williams
Sophmores: Olivia Eiden, Kristina Hollis, Adrian Martino, Erin Muszynski, Rachel Pardun, Gabi Ratcliff, Carly Schulte, Carli Suiter, Devyn Suiter and Shay Viviano
Freshman: Amanda Colquitt, Madison FT, Sam Gregory, Ashley Luoma, Carly Peca, Jenna Seychel and Shelby Snider

Go Eagles!