Comets Win First State Title in Competitive Cheer

Members of the Hanover-Horton High School varsity competitive cheer team celebrate after winning the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 state title in competitive cheer Friday at Central Michigan University.

 Photo, story by Jeff Steers

JTV Sports

 Hanover-Horton High School seniors Lexy VanGelder and Alexyn DuBois said they would love to see their team etched on the wall outside the new gymnasium – meaning they would have won a state title.

Better get the etching material out.

The two seniors and Hanover-Horton won its first state title in competitive cheer Friday at Central Michigan University.

They will be joining Hanver-Horton boys golf, girls cross country, boys cross country, and volleyball on the wall of fame.

The Comets finished with a season-high and school-record 772.68 to defeat Pewamo-Westphalia (765) and Sanford Meridian (757). Five-time defending champions from Hudson finished fourth (752).

Coach Sarah DuBois – the mother of Alexyn – said she brought in reinforcements after having lost to Pewamo-Westphalia twice in the final month.

“We just had to refire after regionals,” Dubois said. “I brought in some gymnastics resources (personnel) and some alumni coaches from Vandercook Lake for help.”

It obviously worked as the Comets took a slight lead (232.70-232.60) after the opening round. Hanover-Horton opened the flood gate in round two beating PW by four points in the round.

Hanover-Horton finished off the competition with a high score of 315 in the third and final round.

Coach DuBois said she would be back for her 26th year as a competitive cheer coach. Her daughter, Alexyn, graduates from HHHS this spring.

“We just stayed consistent all year,” DuBois said. “I tracked all three rounds all season and saw the improvement.

“Our girls worked had to make improvements (in the rounds) each week.”

The Comets spent the winter being ranked near the top in Division 4 competitive cheer.