Hope Cheerleaders Take First in Competition
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 Excited for Year
After following the Flying Dutchmen football team to a first round playoff game in Mount Union, Ohio and the men's basketball team all the way to an Elite 8 postseason game in Stevens Point, Wisc., the Hope College cheerleaders are looking forward to another year cheering on the perennially successful Hope teams.

Coaches Anne Stolz and Wes Wooley will be counting on the continued contribution and leadership from a large group of experienced returning squad members, as well as the enthusiasm of a talented group of newcomers, to maintain the high level of excellence that the Hope cheerleaders have always embodied.

Elected by the squad as captains for football season are seniors, Emily Mills of Marshall, Mich., Amanda Scheeringa of Schereville, Ind., Alicia Voyles of Fremont, Mich., and junior Jon Wissink of Zeeland, Mich.

During the summer Emily Mills and Amanda Scheeringa were employed as cheerleading instructors by the Universal Cheerleading Association. The experience they gained conducting high school cheerleading camps around the midwest will surely be a valuable asset to the Hope squad.

Cheerleaders, Mascot Garner Honors
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.