By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

STERLING HEIGHTS — Throughout the season, the Utica Stevenson competitive cheer squad has embraced the philosophy, “Army of one.”

Coach Brianna Lupu said that concept has embodied the squad’s focus on standing united as one team to accomplish its goal — a state championship.

“In all three of the rounds, (the theme) talks about sticking together … we will not be divided,” Lupu said. “If you listen to the words in our cheer, they’re geared to what our goal is.”

A second-place finish in their regional held at home Feb. 27 and a “team-first” attitude helped guide them back to the state final. Stevenson scored 799.9968 points in regional action to punch its ticket to the main event and make what’s becoming an annual road trip to Grand Rapids.

This year marked the squad’s third consecutive trip to the state finals, held at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids March 6, after press time. The Titans finished fourth there last year after placing ninth at states in 2008.

Lupu called regionals a bittersweet day. Although Stevenson finished second, it had set the bar high with its districts performance.

“Districts was awesome; they just blew their own performance out of the water,” Lupu said. “They had never done it that good, and it’s really hard to repeat a performance like that. How they did on Saturday (regionals), it was up in the air as far as I knew, because it wasn’t the same focused and confident girls that we had the week before (in districts).”

Lupu said refocusing the team and reinforcing the team motto helped motivate it through regionals.

“Our focus for regionals was all about the team. We needed to focus on everybody — freshmen, sophomores and juniors wanted (the state championship) just as bad as our seniors,” Lupu said.

“There’s not one person on this team that we don’t need,” said senior Lyndsey Julian. “Everyone needs to work together towards the common goal.”

District champs
Lupu said the highlight of the postseason run came when the squad won its second straight Division 1 district competition, which the Titans hosted on Feb. 20.

Stevenson topped the 13-team field with a three-round score of 810.8824 points — a season-high total.

“When they ran off the mat, they were screaming because they knew it was awesome,” Lupu said of the Titans’ district routine. “They could feel the energy from each other, and they knew every single one did the best they could. As a coach, it was the coolest feeling for me.”

Lupu said that moment — before Stevenson even knew it had won — made all the long practices and hours in the gym worth it.

“It was amazing because we had beat our top score,” senior Brianna Hogan said.
Making strides

The Titans’ postseason accomplishments are even more amazing because the program has only been participating in Michigan High School Athletic Association competitions for four years.

At the squad’s March 1 practice, Lupu said, she had the girls watch last year’s finals performance, so they could see just how far the program has come.

“I wanted them to see how much more skill and ability they have gained in a year,” Lupu said.

At that same March 1 practice, senior captains Hogan, Julian and Liz Derouin, and sophomore Kristine Fracassa said their strength is staying united toward the season’s common goal.

“When we cheer, we say, ‘the army of one,’” said Derouin. “We’re not like any other team. We’re completely different. We’re the team that came out of nowhere that’s surprising everybody.”

You can reach Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1107.