MARYVILLE – Maryville College is adding to its varsity athletics lineup with the addition of stunt. Operating under the umbrella of USA Cheer, stunt was approved in January as a Division III emerging sport at the NCAA Convention, and MC is the first school among Division III programs in the South to field a squad.
As an emerging NCAA sport, stunt intends to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women and more sport-sponsorship options for the institutions. The addition by Maryville provides additional athletics opportunities to potential female student-athletes and demonstrates a commitment to gender equity among student-athletes.
In return, Maryville adding its 17th varsity sport also helps stunt achieve NCAA championship status.
"We are excited to add to the rich tradition of sport offerings here at Maryville College," Maryville Director of Athletics Sara Quatrocky said. "After bringing back track and field two years ago, we focused on providing opportunities to boost our female student-athlete participation. stunt checks all the boxes.
"We can't wait to be a part of this exciting sport and recruit new future Scots from all over the country to Maryville."
Head-to-Head Competitions in Four-Quarter Format
Stunt is a spring sport that features two teams in head-to-head competition. The scoring objective is based on execution and is judged. The competitions are called games and last approximately 45 to 60 minutes. There is a four-quarter format based on skills: (1) partner stunts, (2) pyramids and tosses, (3) jumps and tumbling, and (4) routines.
"We plan to attract a great coach and mentor who will build this program from Day 1 by providing a great culture to compete on the mats and in the classroom," Quatrocky said. "The model of success that we've built here comes from the daily work that focuses on academics, health and wellness, mental health, and sport performance to go along with the DIII philosophy."
Quatrocky has posted the position for the college's first head coach and plans to hire immediately, with a start date by Aug. 1. The position link can be found
HERE.
"A strong mentor will come in and immediately be able to use our culture to recruit student-athletes who want to be a part of the Orange and Garnet," Quatrocky said.
The Scots, in a display of commitment to their newest sport, are already planning to host the South's first stunt recruiting combine. Quatrocky expects more than 80 potential student-athletes and 12-15 coaches to gather inside Alumni Gym for the event, which is scheduled this summer for Aug. 25.
Trevecca Nazarene and UT Martin already have varsity stunt programs in the state of Tennessee. The Scots are the South's first Division III program to add stunt.
Support from USA Cheer
"We at Stunt and USA Cheer are excited for Maryville College to be adding a stunt program to their athletic offerings," said Amy Haney, USA Cheer's Director of Stunt-West. "We are thrilled for female athletes across the county to have the opportunity to participate in stunt at the collegiate level while furthering their academic careers and representing Maryville College through competition.
"We look forward to coming alongside the Scots to implement their program and watching it grow."
What: Stunt, the 17th varsity sport at Maryville College
When: Competition begins Spring 2026.
Who: 20-30 female student-athletes on the roster.
Where: Home games in Cooper Athletic Center.
