H-H Seniors F(LEX) Their Way to the Top in D-4 Cheer

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(February 1, 2025 8:00 AM ET) Strength in numbers, solid recruiting, and great coaching have led Hanover-Horton High School to the top in Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 competitive cheer.

A couple of years ago the Comets revamped the program starting with eight student-athletes.

Today, Hanover-Horton has 22 competitive cheerleaders and is ranked No. 1 in the most recent Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan Division 4 poll.

Seniors Lexy VanGelder and Alexyn DuBois are two of the reasons the Comets have made such a remarkable turnaround.

“Looking back two years ago as a sophomore we only had eight on our team,” VanGelder said. “It is remarkable how far we have come as a team.”

DuBois’ mother, Sarah, took over as the coach a couple of years ago after leading Vandercook Lake for a number of years.

The Comets started the slow climb to the top catching Michigan Center a year ago and advancing to the state Division 4 finals in Mount Pleasant.

Alexyn jokes about walking the halls asking girls to join the team.

“Hey, you look like a flyer!” she jokes about the hallway recruiting at Hanover-Horton. “We sell them on the fact that we do not have any drama on the team.

“Going to the state meet last year helped,” DuBois said.

The Comets finished sixth in the state in its first trip to the finals scoring 710 for the three-round performance. Hanover-Horton has been scoring 750 and above this season.

“The difference is we come to practice to put the work in and review our films (recordings of the last jamboree or invitational),” VanGelder said. “Each of us review our videos and decide as a group what we can do better.”

DuBois said the collaborative effort helps the Comets improve.

“It teaches us to work together as a team,” DuBois said.

The Comets recently finished second to Pewamo-Westphalia – a team that has won three state titles in Division 4 since 2008 – at the Michigan Center Invitational.

“Teams like Michigan Center, Hudson, and PW have etched their names into (competitive cheer) legacy,” DuBois said. “Now it is our turn.

“Winning a state championship while being coached by my mom would be amazing.”

Both DuBois and VanGelder have a similar pathway started as they will attend Spring Arbor University. DuBois will play softball and VanGelder will compete in cheer.

“I went over to SAU to work on some tumbling and they were so welcoming,” VanGelder said.

Both expect to study health and exercise science at SAU.