Despite graduating five valuable senior women, coaches Anne Stolz and Wes Wooley will now look to "reload" with an exceptional group of newcomers that already appears to have the talent to continue the strong tradition of Hope cheerleading. Integral to the squad's success will be an experienced core group of returning men, including last year's squad MVP, Jon Wissink of Zeeland, Mich. and Co-Most Improved, Mark Haskin of Zeeland, Mich., and Manny Reynoso of Winfield, Ill.

Elected by the squad as captains for football season are seniors Laura Adams of Bay City, Mich. and Jon Wissink of Zeeland, Mich.

Other returning letterwinners include sophomore Carmen Hirsch of Highmore, S. Dak., junior Tiffany Khousakoun of Holland, Mich., junior Bart Schrader of Centerville, Mich., senior Jeff Swift of West Bend, Wisc. and junior Matt Wissink of Zeeland, Mich.

Returning squad members Laura Adams and Carmen Hirsch earned GPA's equivalent to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

The first week of August brought the Hope cheerleaders together as they made their annual trip to the largest regional college cheerleading camp in the country sponsored by Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) in Milwaukee, Wisc.

The squad, comprised of seven men and nine women, joined nearly a thousand cheerleaders representing colleges and universities from all over the Midwest and beyond, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Over four days, the squads work on new skills, hone their safety technique, come together as a team and compete in three competitions with routines learned at camp. With just a few NCAA Division III colleges in attendance, the Hope squad, participated in camp competitions in Division II. This very competitive division included two DII universities that were top-six finalists in last year's College Cheerleading National Championships.

Hope earned a second place trophy in the Cheer competition and a third place trophy in the Sideline competition. In the Fight Song competition, Division II was combined with Division I (non-BCS) which included 18-time and current Division I national champion Morehead State University. Even with this stiffer competition, Hope gained a fourth place finish.

In addition to their impressive showing in the competition, the Hope cheerleaders tied for the Leadership Trophy in their division with Indiana Wesleyan University. This award is voted on by the other squads in that division for the squad which they would like to be a member of, and which made everyone's camp experience more enjoyable.

With two-thirds of the women on Hope's squad being newcomers, this successful camp experience is a positive kickoff to the 2008-09 season.

Cheerleaders Take First in Competition (2/08)
The Hope cheerleaders competed at the Midwest Open National Championship, sponsored by COA (Cheerleaders of America) in Columbus, Ohio on February 23. Hope performed an impressive routine that took first place honors in the Coed College Division.

In addition to winning their championship, the Hope squad made it to Angola, Indiana in time to cheer on the Hope men's basketball team, as they clinched the outright MIAA championship.

Cheerleaders, Mascot Garner Honors (8/07)
The Hope cheerleaders made their annual trip to the largest regional cheerleading camp in the country in August sponsored by Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) in Milwaukee, Wisc. Hundreds of cheerleaders from colleges and universities all over the Midwest met for four days to work on new skills and safety techniques.

The only NCAA Division III college in attendance, the Hope squad, comprised of eight men and eight women, participated in competitions in Division II. This was a very competitive division, including two universities that were top-five finalists in last year’s College Cheerleading National Championships. Hope earned third place trophies in the Fight Song and Cheer competitions and a second place trophy in the Sideline competition.

Over the 13 consecutive years of attending this camp, the Hope squads have shown steady improvement. The UCA staff acknowledged this by awarding Hope the Program Improvement trophy, recognizing how far this program has come.

"This award is a testament to the long-term commitment of the college and our athletes to make Hope one of the best and most consistent cheerleading programs in the nation in Division III," said coach Wes Wooley.

Another first for Hope at camp was the inclusion of “Dutch”, the new college mascot. Dozens of college mascots attended the camp to work on their persona and perfect their game-day skills. Dutch made a big impact in his premier at camp, earning the trophy for Most Improved Mascot.