By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

CLAWSON — Last year, the Clawson High competitive cheer squad made a thrilling run to the first state final appearance in program history.

Despite losing eight seniors to graduation, expectations are again high as the Trojans begin a new campaign.

“Their attitudes are great,” coach Courtney Kettlewell said. “We lost eight seniors. I think the girls were afraid it wasn’t going to be OK this year, because they have higher expectations because of where we went last year but we’re in a good place.”

“We were not very optimistic at all about having so many newcomers on the squad,” said senior Morgan McKinney. “Now, it’s just so refreshing to see how everyone is cooperating and how everyone wants to improve.”

The Trojans returned a core of five, but have added six fresh faces who have never cheered competitively before.

“We have a lot of young talent that came up,” said Kettlewell. “We have a much smaller team this year with only 13 girls total.”

Even though the Trojans aren’t as deep as last year’s squad, the girls are taking on new roles in an effort to build a solid squad.

“They’re all willing to step it up for their teammates,” Kettlewell said. “We came into the season with one flier that had experience. Morgan (McKinney), one of the seniors, had been a back spot the last three years. She’s never been in the air before and decided to try. She’s awesome. She looks like an experienced flier because she works so hard. That’s the attitude they all have.”

“It was overwhelming at first,” McKinney said about her new role. “It’s a lot of pressure and it’s challenging, but I know it’s going to make the team better in the long run.”

Because there is much work yet to be done, Kettlewell said the Trojans are simply focusing on daily development.

“We’re taking it one step at a time,” Kettlewell said.

“We’re such a new team that it’s not so much about winning as it was last year,” senior captain Katie Koenig said. “It’s more about beating our best scores and improving our best skills as a team, and doing harder stunts.”

That doesn’t mean the bar isn’t set high, especially after last year’s accomplishment.

“The five that returned are motivating the others,” Kettlewell said. “Last year, when they made it to states, their nerves set in so they didn’t perform how they wanted at the state level. Now they know how it feels and they want that chance to go back.”

Kettlewell said she knows all the squad’s hard work is going to pay dividends when it matters most.

“I think even though maybe we’re not as strong as we were last year at this point, because they are such hard workers and so dedicated they’re going to surprise themselves at the end of the season,” Kettlewell said.

Fans can catch the Trojans in action next at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Cougar Spirit Invitational at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek.

You can reach Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1107.