STUNT (competitive cheer) plans on becoming Tiffin University's 25th NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sport beginning in the 2018-19 season.
STUNT will be TU's 12th women's sport. The STUNT team, which will host matches in the Gillmor Student Center, will compete as an emerging sport in the NCAA conditional on approval of the sport by the NCAA.
Tiffin will compete in the MidAmerican Conference with nine other teams, including Alma, Davenport, Michigan State, University of Michigan Club, Olivet, Otterbein, Purdue Club, Ferris State, and Hiram.
Hannah Tyson will be the Head Coach for the program. While a student at the University of Toledo, Hannah was a Cheerleader for Football and Basketball. She also competed as a level 9 gymnast for the Greater Toledo Gymcats. Hannah has coached Gymnastics and Cheerleading for 12 years and continues to do so at the rec and competitive level.
"I'm excited to bring this new sport to Tiffin," said Tyson. "STUNT encompasses my two passions, cheer and gymnastics, and I'm looking forward to bringing new athletes to Tiffin that share the same passions. Technique is a big part of what draws me to this sport and I love seeing close games called due to technical points."
STUNT removes the crowd-leading element and focuses on the technical and athletic components of cheer, including partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps and tumbling. With more than 500,000 high school cheerleaders, STUNT will expand participation opportunities for young women at the collegiate level by presenting cheerleading in a new format.
There are currently 12 NCAA Division I programs, 15 NCAA Division II programs, and 8 NCAA Division III programs (12 person) that compete in STUNT.
"We are excited at the prospect of adding STUNT to our athletic department," said Lonny Allen, Athletic Director. "STUNT is a sport that has been growing in collegiate programs around the country in recent years. I think we can offer a great opportunity to student athletes that want to receive a great education at Tiffin University."