This spring, STUNT is officially joining the sports lineup in Montgomery County Public Schools, and students all over the county are curious yet excited. The sport has been growing quickly in other states, so people are glad that it’s finally coming to schools in Montgomery County. STUNT takes familiar cheer skills but turns them into a real game.
STUNT originally came from competitive cheerleading, but it focuses only on the athletic parts instead of the school spirit side. It was created by USA Cheer to highlight skills like stunting, tumbling, jumping and pyramids in a more organized way. The whole point is to show technique and teamwork without the performance traditions.
The game is split into four quarters, and each quarter has its own type of skills. The first quarter is all about partner stunts, where athletes lift, hold and balance each other. The second quarter focuses on pyramids and tosses, which involve group coordination and timing. “I’m excited for STUNT because it gives us a chance to showcase our skills and perform for everyone,” sophomore Julia Mvete said.
The third quarter features jumps and tumbling, so athletes need power, flexibility and clean form. The final quarter is the team routine, which puts all the earlier skills into one big performance. Since each quarter is different, athletes from all kinds of backgrounds can find a role. “I’m really excited about STUNT because it’s really different from cheerleading and we get to try a bunch of new skills which is really cool,” sophomore Ellie Buchman said.
In every quarter, both teams perform the exact same routine, and judges score them on how well they execute the skills. This makes the sport fair because no team can choose easier choreography. The team with the cleaner, sharper routine wins the point for that round.
The head-to-head format makes STUNT more intense than people may expect. Since every mistake can cost a point, athletes have to stay focused the entire time. “STUNT seems like an exciting sport to watch since it’s so competitive and fun. It gives every athlete a chance to show their skills,” sophomore Jill Zweig said.
For students in MCPS, STUNT creates brand-new opportunities in the spring sports season. Cheerleaders get a chance to compete during a different time of year, but athletes from gymnastics, dance and other strength-based activities can join too. Students say they like that STUNT is competitive, fast-paced and offers a new way to work as a team.
As tryouts start, schools will start sharing information about the season. Coach Mia Krawckel, poms coach and now STUNT coach, expects that the first season will be great as schools are experimenting with STUNT. With exciting routines and a structured game format, STUNT is already starting to become a popular sport in MCPS. “So far STUNT is looking really exciting. I am excited to see what we can accomplish with this new sport and ready to work together as a team and win,” junior Malina Karnani said.
