COACH OF THE YEAR

Stefanie Miller -Paw Paw

Stefanie Miller is wife to Paskell Miller and mother to 4 amazing young adults; Charles 19, Mackenzie 18, Paige 17 and Joe 16. During the day, she is a building substitute teacher at Paw Paw High School and advisor of the Culture and Ethnic Appreciation Council (CEAC). 

Her love of coaching started at the very young age of 13, as she began coaching her little sister’s cheer team. This was just the beginning of what was to come.  Stefanie began coaching Competitive Cheer in 2000 at Battle Creek Central High School where she developed/started the program from the ground up and coached them to their 1st Conference Championship in the Winter of 2009.  In the Fall of 2009, she began coaching at Paw Paw High School where she led her team to 8 Conference Championships, 6 District Championships, 2 Regional Championships, and qualified for State Finals10 times. 

The most memorable of those state finals appearances is with their most recent finish as Division 3 Runner up in 2021, where she was able to share this accomplishment with her two daughters. Stefanie’s team has been Academic All State honorable mention for the last 13 years.  She has also been named Wolverine Conference Coach of the Year (COY), D3-District COY, D3-All Region COY, and D3-All State COY over the last several years.  Stefanie has been a member of CCCAM for 20+ years and has served on the board in a few different positions and has been a speaker at CCCAM Summit.  Stefanie’s favorite part about Competitive Cheer is watching her athletes blossom into strong independent young women.

2021: Stefanie Miller, Paw Paw

2020: Jessica Trefry, Michigan Center 

2019: Christina Swansey, Grand Blanc 

2018: Brianna Verdoodt, Utica Stevenson 

2017: Tricia Williams, Roch. Stoney Creek 

2016: Susan Wood, Rochester 

2015: Penny Grinage-Guy, Shelby 

2014: Beth Campbell, Notre Dame Prep 

2013: Jamie Slot, Brandon 

2012: Kelli Matthes, Richmond

2011: Nancy De Avila, Lake Orion 

2010: Kristie LaFleur, Mt. Pleasant 
2009: Jenna Ruddell, Stevensville Lakeshore
2008: Julie Goodwin, Allen Park
2007: Randy Orr, Bloomingdale
2006: Soni Latz, Ovid-Elsie 
2005: Heather Prentice, Portage Northern
2004: Peggy Lintenmuth, Holland Christian 
2003: Deb Gaines, Breckenridge 
2002: Kathy Felty, Comstock Park 
2001: Liz Kazik, Grosse Ile 
2000: Stacy Smith, Plainwell 
1999: Julie Smith-Boyd, Grandville 
1998: Jann Stahr, Flat Rock 
1997: Sherry Fedewa, Pewamo-Wesphalia 
1996: Pat Christiansen, Gibraltar Carlson 
1995: Susan McVeigh, Rochester

Sara Kempton - Plymouth

My name is Sara Kempton and I am the assistant coach for the varsity team at Plymouth high school. I started at Plymouth in 2015 and fell in love with this program. Since 2015 the program has earned 4 league titles, 2 conference titles, 3 district championships, 6 regional appearances, 2x Regional runner up, 2x state qualifier and 1x State Runner Up. I am so proud to be part of building this program that been very successful the last couple of years. Coaching beside head coach Samantha Kerr has been an honor and I am proud to call her one of my best friends and I am thankful for all she has taught me and what we have accomplished together. Outside of cheerleading I am a radiation therapist in the radiation oncology department for Spectrum-Health Lakeland.