ZEELAND – The key to any team’s prolonged success is young athletes becoming leaders.
Zeeland West’s Riley Howe showed how pivotal that can be in competitive cheer as she led the Dux to new heights.
One year after qualifying for regionals for the first time in program history, the Dux lost several key seniors that has built the program into a contender.
Howe helped ensure they weren’t done.
“Coming into my senior year, my No. 1 goal was to lead by example and change the program in a way that would last far beyond when I graduate,” Howe said. “Being someone who has been in all three rounds since their freshman year and in the center spot since last year, I knew that the incoming freshman would look to me for guidance, and that I could really help shape our team culture. Since our first day of sideline tryouts, i tried my best to make sure everyone was always included, and that our atmosphere was positive and encouraging.”
It worked as the Dux won their first-ever conference championship, then qualified for state for the first time.
It took incredible athleticism, and poise in the big moments, which takes a lot of preparation work.
“I worked really hard this past summer to improve my stamina for all of the rounds, and also focused on making my tumbling skills stronger,” Howe said. “My coaches played a big part in my growth as an athlete because they were always willing to let me come in before practice, stay after practice, or even meet me at the school on off days. if it were up to me, I would practice every day of the week because i truly just love doing the sport. Cheer makes up a huge part of who i am, and i feel the most like myself when i’m doing it. i’m incredibly grateful for the time i got to spend in the program, and how it has shaped me into the person I am today.”
And that legacy lives on with the underclassmen who watched Howe’s preparation on a daily basis.
“I will never forget the feeling of qualifying for state finals, and it is not only because we made history by doing so, but because I knew I had another week left with the people that I love. in every round at districts, regionals, and state finals, I left everything that I could on the mat because I knew that it could be or was my last time performing as a high school cheerleader. Looking back, I am so grateful to have something that makes saying goodbye so difficult. As bittersweet as the ending was, I know that we’ve left a legacy within the program – and that we’re also leaving it in good hands.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: How Riley Howe, seniors, have Zeeland West cheer looking up
