Memphis, Tenn., (July 28, 2014) – USA Cheer has announced that Davenport University will field a STUNT team for the 2014-15 season. Davenport, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, tested the new sport discipline last year, and has now officially added it for the upcoming season.
Created by USA Cheer to be an additional sport option for female athletes, STUNT was derived from traditional cheerleading and developed to fulfill all NCAA emerging sport requirements, and has consistently met all minimum requirements for consideration.
STUNT removes the crowd-leading of traditional cheerleading and focuses on the technical and athletic components, which include partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, jumps and tumbling skills.
Davenport University participated in the 2013-14 season as an exhibition team, and competed at the 4th Annual National STUNT Championship in Oklahoma City this past spring.ย Davenport’s athletics department follows the guidelines of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
“I’m proud that Davenport is at the forefront of this emerging sport,” says Paul Lowden, Athletic Director for Davenport University. “STUNT offers a challenging and exciting sport for our female athletes and we are looking forward to seeing what our team can accomplish with the full support of our athletic department.”
“We are excited to have Davenport University on board as we continue to grow STUNT,” says Bill Seely, President of USA Cheer. “We look forward to tracking their progress, and working with them to raise awareness about this new female sport.”
For more information, contact Sheila Noone, media@usacheer.org or 901-251-5959.