Concordia University Irvine
Cal Poly STUNT Opens Season Friday, Saturday in SoCal
2/12/2026 7:00:00 PM | STUNT
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Ranked third in the nation entering the season, the Cal Poly STUNT team opens its 2026 campaign this Friday and Saturday with four games.
On Friday, the Mustangs take on Division II Concordia University Irvine at 4 p.m. before closing out the night against No. 1-ranked California Baptist at 7 p.m. inside Van Dyne Gym in Riverside. Then on Saturday, Cal Poly travels over to the Freed Center in Costa Mesa to face a pair of talented Division II opponents in Vanguard University and Jessup University at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. respectively.
This weekend’s action will mark the Mustangs’ first action since being elevated to varsity status by the Cal Poly Athletics department at the start of the academic year.
This January, the NCAA officially approved STUNT as an NCAA championship sport, paving the way for the first official NCAA Championship to be held in the spring of 2027.
Prior to this year, STUNT has served as a club sport at Cal Poly since 2010 with STUNT Head Coach and Cal Poly Director of Spirit Programs Annette Laron-Pickett overseeing the program alongside the athletic department since its inception.
The Mustangs have been one of the top club programs in the country, capturing the national championship in 2023 and finishing as the national runner-up just two years ago.
Laron-Pickett has poured so much into helping elevate the sport’s status on the national stage, so it was a special moment when the news came down that the NCAA had officially adopted STUNT as a championship sport.
“It’s been a long journey,” she said. “Being part of the foundation for STUNT and helping build the rulebook to the routines and educating others from youth to the collegiate level, it’s been an amazing journey. It’s one of the greatest accomplishments of my life, and to get to this point in my career I have no words for it because it’s just amazing. I get to do what I love for a living.”
Laron-Pickett said the adoption of STUNT as an NCAA sport opens up so many opportunities for female student-athletes at the collegiate level, and Cal Poly plans on making its mark right away.
“With it becoming a championship status sport, there’s a lot of history to be made, and Cal Poly plans on being a big part of that history,” she said.
Following its four games this weekend, Cal Poly travels to Texas next weekend for four more contests inside Dallas Baptist University’s Burg Center. The Mustangs face No. 6 Missouri State and No. 7 Central Arkansas on Feb. 20 before battling Dallas Baptist and Texas on Feb. 21.
The Mustangs hit the road again on March 6-7 to take on No. 2 Kentucky, Fresno Pacific, Vanguard and UC Davis at the Warrior Arena in Rocklin.
Cal Poly wraps up regular season action by hosting the STUNT Stampede on April 3-4 inside the Mott Athletics Center. On Friday, April 3, the Mustangs host No. 1 Cal Baptist and Arizona State at 2 and 6 p.m. respectively before concluding the event on Saturday, April 4, against Arizona State at 10 a.m. and UC Davis at 2 p.m.
Last year, Cal Poly STUNT hosted its first home event in 10 years and drew a great crowd. Laron-Pickett is looking for an even better turnout this year with excitement around the program at an all-time high.
Seniors Mikayla Maire and Emma Osterink, and sophomore Kenzie Cassara are several key returners for the Mustangs that will play pivotal roles in their success this season.
In this final year before becoming a full-fledge Division I sport, Laron-Pickett said the student-athletes are doing a great job adjusting to the transition while continuing to maintain the expectation of competing for a national title.
“We’re extremely excited about the talented recruiting class we have for 2026-27,” she said. “The future of STUNT at Cal Poly is very bright.”
As STUNT continues to grow nationally as an emerging sport, Laron-Pickett hopes people start to gain a better appreciation for just how difficult it is and the dedication it requires year-round.
“I would love for fans, the community and Cal Poly students to come out to our home event so they can see what it’s all about because once you see it, you’ll understand the athleticism that it takes to be on the STUNT team, the team camaraderie, and all the planning and preparation it takes to compete at such a high level,” she said.
