As fall sports come to an end, a new sport getting ready to start is Stunt. Stunt is a competitive team sport that focuses on the athletic aspects of cheerleading. Tryouts are Nov. 11 at noon inside the cafeteria.

“[For tryouts] the girls will have to perform four different types of jumps, their highest tumbling skills and one stunt sequence in front of a panel of judges. The judges will look for technique and execution. The girls choose what stunt sequence they want to perform and who they want to do it with to make sure they are showcasing their talents at their highest level,” Mrs. Nicole Ferguson said.

Ferguson, who has been coaching sideline cheer for four years, is coaching Stunt this year for the first time. She explains that Stunt was created only a couple of years ago, meaning there are only a handful of teams that have any experience with the sport.

“Stunt is now considered a sport and qualifies for Title IX, which gives a whole new take on the sport,” Maddie Anderson said.

Anderson who isn’t on the cheer team this year, explains that trying out for Stunt will be a way for her to get back into the sport.

Title IX is a federal law that “prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.”

However, traditional cheering and Stunt have many differences, one of the biggest being traditional cheer involves cheering on the sidelines while Stunt is focused on the mats.

“They both involve stunting, dancing, tumbling, but the biggest difference is that Stunt doesn’t cheer on the sidelines,” Anderson said.

The Stunt competitions are also unique. The National Cheerleaders Association creates routines that are sent out to teams across the nation; the teams will then prepare for the routine and go to competitions where they compete with other teams at the same time on the same mat.

“Stunt gives us the chance to be the players and not the ones cheering for a team, which is new and exciting,” Madison Herren said.

Ferguson expects 16 to 36 girls on the team, and she hopes they will be able to successfully execute all levels of the routines and have a winning record this year.

“I’m really excited to just see what the team can accomplish in its first year. California is one of the most competitive states in Stunt and I’m excited to have my team start playing and be a part of the new sport. The legislation just passed a couple months ago confirming Stunt’s status as a sport in California so I’m excited to watch the sport grow with its new status,” Ferguson said.

The team’s major games are regional and state championships in April. Ferguson hopes to create a Quarry Match by going against Rocklin at some point in the season.

by MISSIE CARACUT