DALLAS, Pa. – The Gallaudet University STUNT team opened the 2026 season this past weekend at the Misericordia University tournament as the Bison competed in six matches over two days on the Cougars' campus.
The Cougar Classic provided valuable early-season experience for the young Gallaudet squad as many Bison student athletes competed in their first collegiate STUNT matches.
"This weekend, the stunt team kicked off our season by attending a tournament at Misericordia. For many of the athletes, it was their first time competing in the sport, so the first day helped build both confidence and knowledge of stunt competition," said Gallaudet head coach Céline Dazé. "The judges and coaches from other teams were very supportive and provided valuable feedback. By the second day of the tournament, we were able to apply what we learned and scored two points during our final game against Albright."
Gallaudet faced Albright College, Misericordia University, Randolph College and East Stroudsburg University during the tournament.
In STUNT competition, teams compete head-to-head across four quarters that highlight different elements of the sport. The first quarter features partner stunts, followed by pyramids and tosses in the second quarter, jumps and tumbling in the third quarter and the team routine in the fourth quarter. Teams perform identical routines and earn points based on execution and synchronization.
The Bison opened the tournament on Saturday with a 10-0 loss to Albright College in a modified competition format before falling to Misericordia University, 17-1, and Randolph College, 17-0.
On Sunday, Gallaudet dropped its second game with Misericordia, 12-0, in a modified scoring match before facing East Stroudsburg University in a 21-0 setback. The Bison closed the weekend by scoring two points in a modified competition against Albright but fell 10-2 in the final match.
Despite the results, the Bison continued to show improvement throughout the weekend.
First year Annabelle Abenchuchan (St. Augustine, Fla.), sophomore Reza Mosher (Danville, Calif.), first year Natalie Greene (Houston, Texas) and sophomore Kate Scott (Baton Rouge, La.) helped Gallaudet earn its first point of the tournament during the partner stunt round. The group had only two days to prepare the routine before the competition.
Several athletes also stepped into new roles to help the team complete routines during competition. First year Noelle Jones (Hatfield, Pa.) volunteered to perform as a flyer during the pyramid round, allowing the Bison to successfully execute the skill and avoid forfeiting points.
Gallaudet concluded the weekend by earning two points in its final match against Albright on Sunday afternoon.
The Bison are members of the Northeast Conference for STUNT and currently hold a 0-6 conference record (0-7 overall) early in the 2026 season.
"Overall, this weekend was a valuable learning experience, and we are excited to continue growing both as a team and in the sport," added Dazé.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet is slated to travel to Maryville (Tenn.) College on April 3, for a non-conference match.
