Brandon High School’s varsity competitive cheerleading team is using this year as a building block to next year.
There are no seniors on this year’s squad, meaning all 22 members of the team will remain intact for next season. The team is divided into four juniors, 14 sophomores and four freshmen.
Coach Jamie Kapp, who is assisted by Jamie McDonald, said the team has maintained a positive attitude and will only improve with experience.
‘They’ve been progressing really well,? Kapp said. ‘I’m proud of them because this is a young team, and we’re in a tough region.?
Competitive cheerleading is an official Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) sport, in which teams are required to compete in a minimum of four meets per season.
The Blackhawks competed in the second of two Flint Metro League meets Feb. 11 at Brandon. Brandon finished fourth out of four varsity teams competing in the meet with 524.5 points, while Oxford finished first with 644.5 and Lapeer West second with 550.
Overall, the Blackhawks finished tied for third with Lapeer East, while Oxford finished first and Lapeer West second.
Two Brandon cheerleaders (Ashley Mankosa and Tiffany Harding) made the all-league first team, while two other Blackhawks, Megan Miller and Jessi Deluyck, made the all-league second team.