Memphis, Tenn., September 13, 2017 – USA Cheer is proud to announce that Dominique Burke has been named the 2017 College STUNT Athlete of the Year.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Dominique and her STUNT career at Alma,” says Bill Boggs, Director of College STUNT, which developed the sport at the college and high school level. “STUNT has grown thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of athletes like Dominique, who studied this new sport and developed the skills needed to excel.”
Dominique is a senior at Alma College in Michigan. She studies psychology with a minor in educational studies and plans to go on to graduate school and then hopes to become a social worker. Dominique has been captain for her STUNT team for two years now while earning the title of NCA All American, STUNT 1st and 2nd Team All American and was also voted MVP for the 2016 season. When asked why she decide to try out for STUNT Dominique says, “The atmosphere of a STUNT game is unlike anything I had ever expected or experienced.”
Michelle Sabourin, head coach of the Alma College STUNT team, has loved coaching Dominique over the years. “Dom is a selfless teammate who always puts the team in front of herself. She is an incredibly talented athlete, but serves the team most as a leader and person who people can go to with any problem or situation,” Sabourin says. “Dom gives her all every time that she steps on the mat, and is an athlete who has had a huge impact on the success of our program.”
”I absolutely love the atmosphere of STUNT. Everyone has learned the same routines and there is not much to be objective about in this sport. It is so easy for spectators to get into STUNT and to really get into each game,” says Dominique.
On October 18, Dominique will represent STUNT and USA Cheer at the Women’s Sports Foundation Annual Salute to Women in Sports. Dominique will take the stage as part of the procession of female athletes during the annual banquet recognizing excellence in women’s sports. She is the third athlete to do so on behalf of STUNT.
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 component of traditional cheerleading and focuses on the technical and athletic components, which include partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, jumps and tumbling skills.
For more information about STUNT, please contact Sheila Noone at 901-251-5959, or media@usacheer.org.
About USA Cheer
USA Cheer is a not-for profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of STUNT. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.