SHAWNEE – After several years as an emerging NCAA sport, STUNT was officially voted as a championship sport during the NCAA Convention this week.
"STUNT was designed to expand traditional cheerleading to create collegiate opportunities at the NCAA level. Officially being named an NCAA sport is something that our staff has professionally been working towards as coaches, officials and professionals in the industry for over 15 years," 10th-year Bison Head Coach
Jessica Wolverton (Stiles) said.
"Seeing our sport elevated so that today's young athletes can be future NCAA competitors and champions is truly a dream come true. I am so grateful for this moment in history."
Wolverton added, "OBU immediately saw the vision STUNT had for female athletes 10 years ago and has been all in on the sport ever since. This is a victory for all OBU STUNT alumni, coaches and administration who have supported our program! We are honored to say our deserving student athletes are now official NCAA college athletes!"
For the Oklahoma Baptist program, who has been led by Wolverton (Stiles) since its inception in 2015, it's one of the best in the country. Here are just a few of the highlights:
- OBU has qualified for the national championship event every year.
- The program was the 2024 D2 Varsity National Champions.
- Wolverton has produced a 94-27 record, a .776 winning percentage.
- On top of the program's 2024 title, OBU has been the national runner-up four times.
Here's how the future is shaping up. In coming seasons, STUNT will be a national collegiate championship with all NCAA levels competing in one tournament. After that, once each NCAA division gains enough teams claiming varsity sport status, those divisions will break out into their own national championship tournament.
OBU's 2026 season is coming soon. The Bison open with Southern Nazarene on Feb. 5 in Shawnee.
