INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA has officially granted championship status to STUNT in its fourth year. Last Friday, all three divisions voted its approval at the 2026 NCAA Convention. The Mercyhurst STUNT team will begin its third season in February, and the official NCAA Championship is set to begin in Spring of 2027. 
 
STUNT was added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program in 2023. Since then, the sport has seen tremendous growth as there are now at least 75 institutions who compete across all three divisions. USA Cheer is the governing body that oversees STUNT. This has provided a pathway for women to go from their high school or club competitions to potentially earning a college scholarship. 
 
Mercyhurst STUNT began in 2024, with Ruthanne Oakes named the programs first coach and Kristin Lorei-Barry her assistant. The Lakers posted a 12-11 record in their first season in the GMAC conference. Mercyhurst was then elevated from Division II to Division I that same year. The STUNT team then moved to the Mid America West Conference (MAWC) with schools such as Kentucky, UT Martin, and Missouri State. The Lakers finished their first season as a DI university with a 16-14 record, where they were consistently ranked top five in the country. They went 3-2 in the MAWC Championship and went 1-2 in the National Championship. They defeated No. 3 UT Martin but fell to No. 2 Kentucky and No. 1 California Baptist. 

"We started the program here at MU when STUNT received emerging sport status," said Oakes. "And now to bring those same athletes into Championship status is an incredible experience to be a part of." 
 
"STUNT gives so many opportunities at the collegiate level to female athletes," added Oakes. "STUNT has created a pathway for so many young girls to achieve their dreams in college athletics." 

 
To view the full release from the NCAA, click here.