Starting next fall, Bluffton University’s existing cheer program will expand to include a STUNT program.
“We are growing and want to incorporate more into our program than just sideline cheer,” head coach Morgann Rode said. “The school has been supportive and welcoming of the idea.”
While the cheer program is sideline cheering for football and basketball games, the STUNT team will be dedicated to stunting and tumbling, participating in competitions independent from the cheer program. Athletes will be able to participate in both cheer and STUNT.
“STUNT is a whole different ball game,” junior cheerleader Maranda Blanchard said. “There are games that we will compete in that are set up more so like normal sporting events with four quarters, a halftime and points being awarded to the team who is performing best. There will be specific routines that every team competing will learn, and those routines will be used at every game.”
According to head coach Morgann Rode, there are 29 other schools currently participating in the STUNT program. Although many of Bluffton’s cheerleaders haven’t participated in a program like STUNT before, they are excited to learn together.
“The biggest challenge will be finding like-minded individuals who are willing to learn to stunt and tumble,” Rode said. “[I’m most excited for] the fellowship of the teammates and excelling in the program and winning games.”
Because cheer/STUNT is an NCAA sport, Blanchard said she hopes it will bring more recognition to the program.
“I think that once students and faculty realize how different STUNT will be from what our program is currently, there will be a lot more talk about it, and we might be given more recognition for our hard work,” Blanchard said.
“STUNT gives us the opportunity to showcase our skills in games that are strictly just for our athletes. I hope that with this new STUNT team our program will be taken more seriously here on campus.”
Junior cheerleader Morgan Wright has been cheering since she was in fourth grade. She now coaches cheer along with her mom at her old high school and plans to participate in both cheer and STUNT next year.
“I am a cheerleader through and through,” Wright said. “I love being a spirit leader, cheering on the team, and seeing the high moments and going through the low moments together. It’s a great time seeing all of the excitement.”
Wright echoed Blanchard’s hope that more credibility and respect will come with the addition of STUNT.
“Right now, people think that it’s not really hard work, but when you get down to it and see what we do, if anybody were to walk into a practice, they would see how hard we really do work,” Wright said.
Tryouts for the program are April 6, and will include stunting, tumbling, chanting and dancing.
“I’m excited to see where it goes,” Wright said. “Hopefully this brings more respect for cheerleading. We don’t just stand out there and yell and look cute, there’s a lot of hard work that goes behind learning all the cheers, and so many hours behind events like Dam Jam that people don’t really recognize. Maybe with this they’ll recognize it.”
For more information on the STUNT program, contact Morgann Rode at cheerleading@bluffton.edu.
