When you think of a sport, the first thing that comes to mind is probably soccer, basketball, or baseball. These sports have been around for multiple centuries, some even stretching back to the late 1700s, thus becoming very popular sports throughout the years. The sport that is often not recognized as much is stunt.
Stunt is one of the fastest growing female sports in the country. With the first stunt tournaments, held in 2011 in Louisville Kentucky, it has gained immense popularity leading to its addition to the list of NCAA sports, as of August 1st 2023. This sport was created by USA cheer advocating for many aspects of cheerleading to be incorporated into a sport that meet the strict Title IX requirements of a sport for colleges, universities, and high schools. As of this, many colleges have taken D1 rankings in this sport, with California Baptist University (CBU) being the highest ranked school for the sport, followed by the University of Kentucky (U of K), and University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin). This sport allows people of all ages to participate, ranging from club teams for young children to collegiate levels.
This sport is an all girl sport that incorporates many aspects of cheerleading. Each head-to-head- game consists of two teams who execute various skill based routines. Within these routines there are various categories such as partner stunts, jumps & tumbling, pyramids & tosses, as well as team routines. While the skill level of each category can vary drastically, the objective of the game is to execute each skill as flawlessly as possible with factors weighing in such as good technique and timing. Darla Lopez (11), says, “I love stunt games because they are a good opportunity to represent my team and try new stunts and skills. I also like the competitiveness of this sport, as it can often get to the last game-winning point.” Without a doubt, this sport is highly competitive and requires much practice and repetition to perfect, just like any “traditional” sport.
In addition to the fierce competitiveness of stunt matches. A drawing factor to the sport is the close connections that are formed within each team. To explain, when the team is performing, not all players are on the mat, and those who aren’t performing are accustomed to cheer and encourage their teammates. Aubrey Hinderliter (9) explains, “One of the main reasons why I like stunt is because of my teammates. Through all the practices and matches, I have found some really good friends through the sport.” To conclude, there are many interesting aspects to stunt the sport that you could participate in!
