FULLERTON, Calif. – The celebration has begun, as on Saturday, Jessup finished the threepeat. With an 18-13 victory over Hope International, the Warriors are on their way home as back-to-back-to-back NAIA STUNT National Champions.
Head coach
Alexis Blunk and her team have built Jessup into a national powerhouse, as it's the third title in the program's four-year existence. The climb to glory has been remarkable, as Jessup went winless in year one, and ever since, they have ended every season as the best in the country.
To claim they were the best this time around, Jessup would need to beat No. 1 ranked HIU for the second day in a row, inside Hope's gym nonetheless.
It was a neck-and-neck battle in the first half, as the intermission began with both teams all square at five. The Warriors then gained some ground in the third, as they won 3-1, taking an 8-6 lead into the fourth.
The fourth quarter is where Jessup pulled away yesterday in their 19-9 win, and it was no different on Saturday, starting with the first routine as Jessup scored on all three sections to go ahead 11-7.
Blunk then called routine eight, as a sweep would guarantee Jessup the championship. Hope managed to score one, but now down 14-6, it would take HIU claiming all six of the remaining points to end Jessup's national championship streak.
With possession, the Royals called routine four, needing to be perfect to avoid the loss. But no stranger to big moments, the Warriors stepped up when they needed, as they took two points to lock down the championship.
The final routine would see the Warriors claim two more, as what followed was a frenzy on the mat as the Warriors were crowned national champions.
Saturday marks an end to a dominating era for the Warriors, as it was the final time Jessup will compete on the NAIA stage. The Warriors will transition into NCAA Division II next season, as they will look to keep their national dominance alive as members of the PacWest.
Team Five's journey starts now.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
