There’s a new MSHSAA sport.
Just don’t expect to see it here anytime soon.
By a majority of 315 to 158, MSHSAA member schools approved the inclusion of Girls Stunt as an “emerging sport” with the possibility of it becoming a full-fledged inter-school sport if/if it meets registration requirements.
However, there are many questions that need to be answered.
“I reached out to our Missouri Cheer Coaches group a few months ago and it doesn’t sound like many schools are going for it,” said Union Cheer head coach Sarah Otto. “Many questions remain to be answered, but the addition of STUNT (the national organization designation in capital letters) could be beneficial for our athletes. In recent years, several athletes have signed up for STUNT teams in Maryville, Missouri Baptist and Missouri Valley.”
The season isn’t set yet, but it’s a spring sport for colleges. There, Otto believes, it will end in Missouri.
Washington, St. Francis Borgia and New Haven have announced they will not be adding a stunt team for 2023–24.
“I have no idea when or if we’re going to add anything, but yes, I assume it’s the responsibility of the cheerleading coaches at this point,” said Washington High School athletic director Bill Deckelman.
St Francis Borgia’s director of sport Chris Arand said the school is not adding the sport and has not spoken much on the subject at the time.
New Haven athletic director Jaime Hoener also said her school is currently closed.
Union’s Pat Rapert, who will succeed Dan Ridgeway as athletic director, said Union is not planning a stunt team this school year.
Otto knows that the time for discussion is coming.
“I think it will be a difficult decision for us when the time comes,” Otto said. “We’re obviously a strong cheer program in the state and could probably compete at STUNT at a high level. The problem we encounter is that we are already on the road for most of the year. Spring is really the only free time we have, which allows some of our children to take part in athletics and soccer alongside spring plays and musicals.”
No official communication was received from St. Clair or Pacific before the deadline.
Stunt (or STUNT) is a branch of traditional cheerleading and focuses on technical and athletic components. A team consists of 12 players per team on the floor.
Two teams compete head-to-head using the same routine. The team that performs the drill best gets the point and gets to call the next drill. A stunt competition consists of four quarters.
Stunt has also been recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport.
Stunt had been outside of MSHSAA jurisdiction as part of competition cheering. Prior to this development, MSHSAA only had regulated part-time cheerleading. Competitive cheerleading had fallen under the leadership of the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA).
Otto believes this is a victory for cheerleading.
“The upside is that it’s a real sport that would give our cheering athletes the recognition they deserve,” said Otto. “It would also help us improve our skills for the upcoming season and improve our skills as STUNT requires extreme synchronization and cleanliness.”
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