ROCKLIN, Calif. - In just their sixth season as a program, Jessup STUNT has built a resume that would impress even the most decorated programs in college athletics. With three consecutive national championships, a runner-up finish in DII last year, and one of the best STUNT coaches in the nation leading the charge, the Warriors were ready to bounce back on the mat in a big way in 2026.
    
The 2026 season began on the road, as the Warriors traveled to Costa Mesa, CA for two games against Cal Poly and host school Vanguard. Despite it being the first game of the year, the Warriors did not skip a beat in their opening games, taking care of business and defeating Cal Poly 29-11 and Vanguard 29-7. The week after the season opener, the Warriors hit the road once again, this time to Texas for five games against five schools, three of which being Division I opponents. They would take four of their five matchups, with their only loss coming against Oklahoma Baptist University, a name they would not soon forget as the season carried on. With their two opening road trips behind them, the Warriors boasted a 7-1 record, with their home opener next on their schedule.
    
Jessup's first home matchups would come against Concordia and Vanguard on the same day in early March, and the Warriors would keep their hot streak alive, dominating the day and winning both games 31-8 and 22-4, respectively. They would split their next two matchups the following day, dropping a tough matchup against D1 juggernaut University of Kentucky, and then regaining momentum against Fresno Pacific, keeping their perfect PacWest record intact and moving to 10-2 overall. They would hit the road again the week after, heading to Southern California for four games against Arizona State, Hawaii Pacific, and Concordia. Their win streak would extend to five after the weekend was over, taking down all four games and establishing their dominance in the sport for a fifth consecutive season.
    
The true test for this team would come the following week, as the Warriors boarded a flight and headed to Lexington, Kentucky, for their final matches before postseason play. These games would be played against some of the best programs Division II has to offer, and the Warriors would once again prove that they belong. Their first game of the road trip would see them face the reigning Division II champions, Davenport University, and the Warriors would take down the champs 30-27 in a game for the ages. The team stayed hot the following day, taking down Missouri State and Danville in dominant fashion. The final day of their three-game bill saw another dominant Jessup win over the University of Central Arkansas before dropping a tight-knit battle against the University of Kentucky, where the Wildcats edged out a 29-27 win.
    
Next on the agenda for the Warriors would be a trip to Fresno for the PacWest Conference STUNT championships, where they would accomplish what they were all too familiar with: a dominant run to the title. Jessup took game one in a flawless 24-0 victory, and would keep the perfect streak going in their second matchup against Fresno Pacific the next day, winning 23-0. The PacWest Championship would be played later that night against Concordia, and the Warriors would clinch yet another conference title in a dominant 33-9 victory. With another conference title on their resume, the next order of business was going for another national title, the fourth in school history.
    
Before the trip to nationals, the Warriors would play one last home game against their local STUNT friends from UC Davis, where they would also host senior night at Warrior Arena. A total of 14 seniors were honored before their final game on their home mat: Lindsey Wickum, Tia Dana, Hailey Clonts, Kylie Mutulo, Devynne Linnell, Presley Fitzgerald, Sophia Perinoni, Emily Ethridge, Samantha Sena, Jenna King, Halle Peterson, Kyla Pearson, Natalie Rosales, and Mia Ricci. The seniors were recognized for years of dedication and contributions to the program, both on and off the mat, leaving an incredible legacy behind for future teams to look back on. Once the game began, the seniors made sure it was a senior day they would not forget, cruising to a 24-0 victory and gaining all momentum possible before another nationals run.
    
Ready for the battle ahead of them, the Warriors headed to Nashville, Tennessee for the DII National Championships, and they came out firing on all cylinders. In their opening match, Jessup dominated Purdue University Northwest, winning 19-5 and setting up a showdown with the reigning champion Davenport Panthers. Seeking revenge from last year's title game, the Warriors did not skip a beat, winning their second game of the tournament in a thrilling 32-25 fashion. Next on the agenda in the winner's bracket was Oklahoma Baptist University, and the game of the year was in store. In a back-and-forth overtime matchup, the Bison edged out the Warriors by a score of 35-34, the highest-scoring STUNT game in the sport's history. This set up a rematch with Davenport, and with their season on the line, the Warriors responded with a 31-25 victory, sending them to their fifth consecutive national championship game. A rematch with Oklahoma Baptist would be the Warriors' final hurdle, and they would give the Bison all they could handle in the season's final game. Through three quarters, the Bison held a 15-13 lead, and despite an electric final quarter that saw the Warriors outscore OBU 16-15, the Bison would claim the 2026 championship, holding on to win by one point and a final score of 30-29. For the second year in a row, the Warriors' championship hopes fell just short, finishing as the runner-up in Division II once again, an incredible accomplishment for the six-year-old program.
    
After the tournament was over, many accolades and awards were in store for Jessup. Starting with the National Championship tournament, six Warriors earned First Team All-Tournament honors. Those players were Sophia Uriarte, Kyla Pearson, Jordan Turner, Marissa Pepitone, Laighla Halpenny, and Mikaylah Barnes. These six were honored among the absolute best performers from the DII National Tournament. Also being recognized were four members of the Second Team All-Tournament: Aiko Bates, Lindsey Wickum, Ava Gonzales, and Sophia Perinoni. After the season, the CSCA gave out its seasonal awards, and a long list of Warriors were recognized for their performances. Sophia Uriarte was awarded the CSCA Athlete of the Year for Division II, highlighting an incredible season on the mat and leading the way to a national championship appearance for her team. Also taking home national recognition was Marissa Pepitone, who earned CSCA Stunting Specialist of the Year honors for her contributions to the Warriors' run, particularly in the department of partner stunts and pyramids. Jordan Turner was also recognized, earning CSCA Jumps & Tumbling Specialist of the Year for her talents on the mat. Along with these three individual awards, seven Warriors were given CSCA All-American Honors. Earning a spot on the First Team were Sophia Uriarte, Laighla Halpenny, Marissa Pepitone, and Jordan Turner, and earning Second Team honors were Mikaylah Barnes, Lindsey Wickum, and Kyla Pearson.
    
With two consecutive national championship appearances under their belt, the Warriors will look to get back on the top of the totem pole in 2027. One more reason for excitement is that the Warriors will have a chance to compete for an official NCAA championship, as the sport of STUNT was officially recognized by the NCAA this season, elevating it from the emerging sport status. The first-ever NCAA Stunt National Championships will take place in the spring of 2027, an event the Warriors aspire to be a major part of.  
About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. 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 (Instagram & X).