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lé-ýThe Canadian Champion, Friday, February 27,199~8 try ~ Mi 0ho 160 MAIN ST. E. Tu"e 10-5 Thl,1 0Fi. 1", Sit 104 878-2297 Merchants believe they'11 do whatever i..i à 7']i takes to advance HIG .0By STEVE LeBLANO Special to The Champion Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Milton District Hlgh's cheerleaders won their fifth straight Hilton titi. recmntly and wiII bu gun- ning for gold this weekend at the west regionals in Burington. As others sleep, they-t work concerned with what the Oakville Blades are planning for round two, which starts tonight at Mernorial Arena. Whether the next several days are inun- dated with brawling or feature wide-open showdowns, the Merchants' captain appears confident in a West Conference serifinal victory. "To be honest I really haven't given it much thought (what Oakville is plan- ning)," said the fourth-year centre, prior to Wednesday's practice. "We're going to corne in playing disciplined hockey, but guys like (Mike) Hurst and (Jasen) Hopiavuoiri may have to step it up if things get rough. "Right now we're just concentrating on our own gaine, working on tight defence, good breakouts, that type of thing." Milton holds a definite edge going into the series. They beat the Blades in six of seven games this year, three tirnes by seven or more goals. The one blernish on their season series - a 4-1 loss in Oakville - carne at the Jeif Haydar height of their post-holiday slurnp. Garne two will be held Sunday in Oakville at 1:20 p.rn. garnes three and four go Tuesday and Wednesday in Milton and Oakville respectively. While great expectations have been *see PREVAIL on page 20 Top curlers are hitting local circuit on weekend By STEVE LeBLANO Special to The Champion 'he dynasty continues. Milton District High's cheerleading tearn has once again refused to give up their regional trophy. Despite having a rnuch younger roster this year, they won an unprecedented fifth straight Halton title February 13 at T.A Blakelock in Oakville. The Mustangs ran the only flawless routine in the varsity showdown and beat second-place Q.E. Park by 51 points - for their widest margin of victory in tean history. "We had a lot of obstacles this year including a Iast Curling heavyweights Mike Harris and minute injury that forced us to rework our prograin," Ed Werenich will descend on north Halton said veteran Katie Anderson. "Norrnally we'd have today, pitting their akilîs against those of cornpeted twice heading into Haltons, but because of the top players on the provincial circuit. the teachers' strike this was our first cornpetition of Their rinks will battle for a $5,000 grand the year. prize in the 23rd annual ACCO Wrigley "Everyone carne together and pulled off a great rou- Classic, which runs through Sunday in ine, which rnade this year's win even better." Acton, Georgetown and Milton. MD's award-winning routines - which feature Fresh off bis silver-rnedal perforrnance irnpressive pyrarnids, turnbling, press libs (a kind of in Nagano, Harris will open play against one person lift) and basket tosses - haven't corne north Halton's Mike Makovnyk, Bob sou CHEERLEADERS on page 20 Hirst, Brad Hale and Dave Durnencu today at 2:30 p.rn. in Acton. Werenich, a two-tirne world champion, will battie Fred Archibald's rink at 12:30 p.rn. in Acton. A number of other prelirninary round tilts will be held today in Milton while Acton and Georgetown will host Saturday and Sunday competition. Representîng Milton's best hopes are Steve Oldford and Dave McLeod' s rinks. A total of two dozen tearna will be vying for $16,500 in prizes. .......... . ... 1