Edmond, Okla.- Missouri Baptist STUNT traveled to the STUNT National Championship this past Friday and Saturday. The Spartans fell to (No. 4, NAIA) Oklahoma City University 13-5 and (3) Hope International University 21-2. MBU will end their season 9-6, earning Top 5 in the NAIA.

Head Coach and Spirit Director, Ciara Schott had this to say.

"Although Nationals didn't end the way we had hoped, Nationals wasn't a loss in our book. We are a third year program with 9 rookies and 7 second year athletes. We only have 17 competing athletes and 16 are required in order for us to compete in upper level pyramids. Most of the teams we compete against have more than double the number of athletes we have, which means we are maxing out all of our athletes in every routine. We utilize every person on our mat in all 4 quarters of a STUNT game, where as as most teams can filter out athletes and save their energy."

The Spartans had a lot of small victories at Nationals. They competed Partner Stunts Routine 7 for the first time and hit while also competed Pyramid Routine 5 for the first time and scored twice. Missouri Baptist has put out new level routines every time they perform. The Spartans have beat their previous year (4-12) by a long shot and increased their skill level. 

"I am very impressed with such a fresh team, they've got the GRIT and determination. We also wouldn't be able to compete how we did without our captains. This season we had athletes leave at semester, which is right at the beginning of our season. There was so much doubt put on us at such a vital time of competition, but our captains helped create a CAN-DO and motivating environment. Captains Kylie Lamb and Ciara (CiCi) Mallqui-Thomas learned new skills to fill the void other athletes left. Our captains are only in their second season of STUNT and they have stepped up to be such talented athletes and strong leaders." -Ciara Schott

Sophomore, Kylie Lamb earned 161 points this season alone and top flyer CiCi Mallqui-Thomas earned 180 points. Lamb stepped in for her team mates and learned a new position while Mallqui-Thomas learned how to tumble, ultimately helping them compete upper level routines allowing the Spartans to make strategic decisions to beat out other teams. 

Captain and California native Kylie Lamb hed this to say, " As a whole I feel so beyond proud of this team. We battled through adversity and all of the challenges that we faced this season to earn a top 5 spot in the NAIA. These athletes make me want to push myself more than ever before. Their hard work and determination that they put into every practice at 7 am five days a week is so beyond impressive. That's why I stepped up to a new flying position in January. We had an athlete leave at semester and no one to fill the spot. So I stepped up for this team, not because I was thrilled to be thrown in the air. I love everyone of these athletes and am so proud of the the hard work we got to showcase this weekend. We may be a small team this year but we didn't let it stop us from accomplishing great things!"

Captain CiCi Mallqui-Thomas shared, "So much has happened this season. We have had huge bumps in the road. Losing a lot of tumblers I had to learn to tumble. Conquering my life long fear was not part of the plan, but I did it for this team. We have put in so much hard work this season to get to nationals, and pushed each other to learn from our mistakes then do it better the next time. Watching this program over the last two years has brought me so much joy and makes me only want to fight that much harder next season. I love being on this team and I can't wait to start working for next season. We are only going to keep beating program records each year."

Parting words from Coach Schott, "I am beyond proud of these young women and it has been such a rewarding year regardless of the setbacks. We have a lot of talented recruits coming in next season and we are ready to put in the work during the off-season!