Jacket Cheer Team Wins at COA in California (Mar. 14, 2005)
Courtesy MSU Billings University Relations

IRVINE, CA – For the second straight year, the Montana State University-Billings Cheer Team captured first place at the COA competition this past weekend in Irvine, Calif., reported Dani Ruoff, MSU Billings Cheer Coach, and will bring back a trophy and banner when they return to Billings tomorrow, March 15, at 9:30 p.m., aboard United Airlines.

The five schools in the Division II competition were MSU Billings, University of California Irvine, University of La Verne, Antelope Valley College and Long Beach City College.  In addition to capturing the Division title, the MSU Billings team competed for the highest point scale.

Frankie Reno and Kristin Hodges will be bringing home a first-place trophy, with Marc Snider and Brooke Henderson bringing home the second-place trophy, both in the Co-ed Partner division.  Bradley Lauckner and Veronica Butts took fourth place in this division; Lindsey Hart and Eric Faulks took eighth.

Brandi Hallgren, Laura Steiger, Ashley Henderson, Kristin Hodges, and Lindsey Leischner captured a first-place trophy in the All-Girls Partner Stunting division, while Lindsey Hart, Lynsey Parrish, Marissa Anderson, Tracy Mann and Anna Ferguson, earned second place.

“We had a very difficult routine, and the team did a remarkable job,” said Cheer Team Coach Dani Ruoff.  “I can’t tell you how proud I am of our cheer team, and how pleased I am that MSU Billings is doing so well with competitive cheerleading.  It will only grow and also will help recruit even more great cheerleaders for the University!”

Last year’s winning team captured first in the Division II competition despite having a team member break his ankle during morning practice, causing the team to change their entire routine just prior to competition.  “We proved it before and we proved it again this year,” said Ruoff.  “We have a team of champions!”