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The Canadi an Champion, Tuesday, April 30, 2002 -23 ,Mustangs cheer way to fourth at the national champi*onships MD reboundsfrom shaky start with stellar round three effort By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Mustang cheerleaders refused to finish their national debut with anyfhing lese than their absolute beat. Rebounding from a couple of lacklustre performances at the inaugural Power Cheer Nationals at Toronto's Intemnational Centre, MD'a 28-member teamn engineered a stellar showing to win the third and final round. Saturday aftemoon's dynamite routine - which was on par with the school's provincial championship effort two weeka earlier - allowed the local ladies f0 move up three spots in the all-around standings fo place fourth in the large high achool varaity division. "Jumping up that much in one round is particularty unheard of in cheerleadmng. Overail, l'm very happy with our performance," said Stacey Farrell, a former cheerleader through the early '90s who now acta as the teamas staff advisor alongside Wendy Beriault. "One judge came up to us afterwards and said 'l sec why you won the provincials'. Saturday affemnoon was the real Mustangs." MD's hopes for placîng among the top teamu looked rather bleak Friday afiemoon - when irs opening-round competition a lack of cohesion and a fcw ill-timed crashes (though somewhat subtle f0, the untrained eye) met with a disappointing eighfh. Recalled Farrell, "l'm not sure if they werc just tired from a long season and the provincials having been juat two weeks carlier, but they didn't aeem mentally focused enough." However, rather than pointing fingers or packing in their prover- bial tenta. the Mustangs camne back with a slightly-improved per- formance the following moming and then stepped thinga up con- siderably at crunch time to take round three and overaîl finish within two points of Oakville's T.A. Blakelock Tigers - their long- time rivais, who wound up claiming bronze. A ~hsg MoGluinnoo le MlW by MD chwl.edlg tilant- mstsll <turIng thls peo whond's Povnr Cho Nadior"l et ToronWo' InOsmatIna Cm"t. MD pla.d fourlh. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE -OFSAA quaifying bidfalls a point short for EC Drury duo By STEVE LBLANC The Champion One lousy point. Thaf's aIl that kepf an E.C. Druey Spartan duo from reaching the innermoat sanctum of high achool bad- minton competition. At GHAC championship play in Hamilton Wednesday, senior men's doubles partners Ron Massey and James Wellstead stood on thse threshold of qualifying for OFSAA - leading a pair from Burlingfon's Assumption 20-18 in the battle for second place. But Halton's silver medalists junt couldn't deliver the knockout blow, surrendering three unanswered points and hitting into the nef on a long match-ending rally which allowed tiseir regional rivals to triumph 2 1 - 20. The OFSAA qualifying clash served as payback for the Spartans' 21-19 come-from-behind win in the Halfon Championship semnifmnais just one week carnier. "This (narrow defeat) is going f0 linger with us," said Massey. Added Wellstead, "It's frustrating f0 get that close (and flot win). They were juat sharper Ihan us at the end." The bass was doubly diaappointing since the local duo had battled back from an early 11 -4 deficit to put themacîves in a position f0 advance. Overcoming slow starta bas been a trend for the long-f ime pannera - who've held court together since the ninth grade - and if's what helped themn reach GHAC after two unsuccesaful bida in 2000 and 2001. But Druryas representafives deviated friim their tra- ditional course in round one Wednesday - atriking early against a pair from Burlington's M.M. Robinson and hanging on for a 21 -14 decision. From there, they met Oakville's Loyola Hawks - provincial silver medaliats Is spring - and offered a much stiffer challenge compared to the regional finals. Ins fact, the Spactana held a 12-8 advantage in game t wo and threatened to take the top-ranked duo to the limit. But thse Hawks had other ideas and detivered a tierce finish to win 15-12 and capture gold. "We definitely gained anme ground on them (Loyola)," said Massey. "Not qualifying for OFSAA was disappointing, but overali we',ve got to be happy with our season." Massey and Wellstead are the only Drury badminton players in recent memory to make it to GHAC. Please -fax ail of your team reports and sports story ides to S15teve LeBlanc at (905) 8781,;-494, or drop themn off anytime at The%#m Champion, 191 Main St. E. Oakridge captured gold, while silver went to Saunders. "I'm so proud of the way they handled things after Friday. There was no blaming anybody and after a few minutes they just refo- cused for Satssrday," Farrell explained. "They really wanted to end the year on a high note and fhat's what they did." MD was led by co-captains Tegan Miller and Jenny Smith- the only two graduating membera of the team. Making up the rest of this year's squad were Tara Anderson, Heather Bray, Chrissy Chadwick, Kristen Deumer, Jen Drewlo, Cailin Drijber, Justyne Jeffrey, Laine MacDonald, Val Massel, Ashleigh McGuinness, Cheryl Merritt, Krisfine Morrow. SalIy Nichoîls, Kafie O'Reilly, Lyndsay Richardon, Alicia Robinson, Brittany Roskam, Alex Rundie, Brittany Russell, Katherine Russell, Rachelle Saevil, Ashley Samuelson, Sarah Samuelson and Amy Williams. The Mustangs are coached by Andy Cecehini and assistants Meredith Craigie and Amy Newell. r The Milton :MeFarm Spring Au - - )W v 'er1 0 MAYie crats pe&t la heGafablam The Aberfoylt Town Hall and lsdividual Eshibiler Teals * Handmnade quality st y&sü * Superior workmanship 9SatUtd 4 Suntla * Greal gift ideas for Mom ~ am 4p. * Country decorating at its best Auo 0 * Live entertainmenl ù l 2F * Reautiful Spring location * Food Available COUNTRY HERITAGE PARK 8560 Ttemaine Rau, Milton, ON 1 Caii 1,SSS.307"AEM (3276) k', [111 &1k * ý 1 iM21 Find out about your.. OPTIONS The conference that worcs for womnen! SFind out about... Participate in... Eý1your empinyment and career options Ce' panel discussions Ce training programa and technology te amai group workshops Ill job prospects for the future K >information sessions and displsys 9[ý balancing work and family ~ 'intemet demonstrations 2-DAY CONFERENCE Tuesdasy, Maiy 28 & Thursdaiy, May 30, 2002 8:30 arn. - 3:30 p.m. Holiday Inn 3063 South Service Rocad, Burlington, Ontario Pre-registralion is required, so coUl today. Open to Ha/ton women at no charge. Cai: Halton Region * (905) 825-6000 Toi) free: i -866-4HALTON (1 -866-442-5866) Extension 4176 or Visift. www.optionsconference.ca Transportation to Burlington is available. In partnership with: * The Centre P RegiondcfPe4 - Human Resourcea Développement des I 1 Development Canada ressources humaines Canada Preaented By: Perria Training and Development a