DEARBORN — “Outrageous! We’re equal!”

That was the reaction of Sarah Leonard, coach of the Dearborn Divine Child’s pom pon and dance team, to the good news that the Falcons — by the slimmest of margins: four-tenths of a point — had won the CHSL’s 28th annual pom pon and dance championships.



Beth Wanczyk, coach of defending champion Warren Regina, shared her counterpart’s sentiment, adding: “My girls did a great job. They’re winners in my book.”

But in the scoring charts of eight judges, the Falcons regained the title they lost last year by a score of 517.10 to 516.70.

Both coaches agreed: “It’s the judges’ preferences.”

Meanwhile, Amber Genevich, coach of Divine Child’s competitive cheer squad, celebrated the school’s 10th straight CHSL cheer title, staged before the pom pon competition in an all-day event hosted by Divine Child.

“It’s still exciting. You never take anything for granted,” said Genevich, in her seventh year leading the Falcons.

Genevich has her sights on another title: the Division 2 state championship. That quest begins at 10 a.m. next Saturday at Allen Park High School. The 2011 state champs, Gibraltar Carleton — to whom Divine Child was runner-up — will be there.

More excitement is on the way.