The 2006-07 Cheer Squad . . .
They have worked hard on teambuilding and believe the squad is now beginning to gel. With the determination and the positive attitude of this year’s team, fans can be certain that the Cheer Squad will be ready every time.
Now in her fifth year as coach of the HU Cheer Squad, Candace Cooper has learned what works and what doesn’t. "I learn something new each year," says Coach Cooper, "and I must, because each squad is so different from the one before it. You encounter different things."
That is a lot of what cheerleading is about, rolling with the punches and making things work. If a cheer goes flat, you change it. If a stunt falls, you toss it right back up. At the end of a game there are no stats, no interviews and no accolades. There is only the feeling of a job well done.
- by Katie Haifley ('05)
Keeping Up With the Foresters After 12 Games the Foresters are 11-1 and #1 in the Nation FORESTERS RATED #1 BY NAIA COACHES
The Foresters earned the top spot in the NAIA D2 Coaches Poll on Dec 6, the first time in history that Huntington University has been rated #1 in the NAIA. They were previously rated as high as #2, the most recent of which was in the NAIA preseason poll.
The opinion poll agrees with two currently available computer rating systems; they have Huntington at the top of all NAIA D2 teams as well. The national ratings service of Kenneth Massey has Huntington #1 in his system that considers W-L records, game locations, and strength of schedule, and #1 in a second system that includes margin of victory.
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS
NAIA statistics further validate the ratings as HU holds top spots in several national stat categories.
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SEASON RESULTS TO DATE
The Foresters have only one blemish on their record so far this season: a one-point loss (in overtime) in the first game of the season to IPFW (NCAA D1).
Since then, Huntington has defeated nine strong NAIA D2 opponents and two NAIA D1 teams (HU is D2).
In MCC Conference play, the Foresters are 4-0 with road wins over St Francis and Taylor already, and home wins over Bethel and Marian.
The next MCC Conference game will be on Saturday, Jan 6, at Spring Arbor, MI, where a tailgate party is planned (see Tailgate Parties for complete schedule).
FORESTER STATISTICAL LEADERS
Seniors Alex Kock, Jared Yoder, Kyle Ganton and James Haifley are providing the leadership for this team. All four have started and all four have been instrumental in wins.
Alex is not only leading the team and the MCC in scoring, he ranks #2 in the nation with 8 double doubles; #3 in the nation with 8.5 defensive rebounds a game; #6 in the nation in scoring at 23.7 points a game; and #7 in the nation with 10.3 total rebounds a game.
Ganton leads the team as well as the MCC with his 54.5% three-point shooting percentage, and that is #7 in the nation. He also ranks #5 in the nation with his 92.9% free throw shooting percentage.
Jared Yoder ranks #3 in the nation with his 6.3 assists per game. That stat not only leads the Foresters, but ranks second in the MCC as well. His assist/turnover ratio of 3.04 is best on the team and #3 in the MCC Conference.
James Haifley leads the team in steals with 1.3 per game, while junior Doug Sheckler leads the team in blocks with 1.3 a game. Sheckler also averages 13.0 points a game (34 points at IPFW), while hitting 54.5% from the field.
Sophomore Kyle Benge has been another key contributor, scoring 14.5 points a game while shooting 46.4% from beyond the three-point arc. That's #31 in the NAIA.
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