Though she’s just in her second year with the program, Warrenton senior Addison Beaird will carry her effort to be a pioneer in Warrenton athletics for a lifetime, she said.

Beaird, who has been a part of the Warrenton stunt program in both years of the program’s existence, said that the welcoming atmosphere surrounding the team coached by Natalie Filipek and Sydney Harris, has made stunt feel as much a family as it does a team.

“My favorite thing about stunt is the people I’ve met,” Beaird said. “I’ve made so many great relationships with people because of this sport. It has given me so many great opportunities and has made me a better athlete. To represent Warrenton means to be kind to everyone and to push to be your best.”

At its best is exactly where the team is right now. 

After wins over Hickman, by a 31-29 score in overtime, and Troy, 20-19 on April 10 at home, Warrenton owns wins in each of its four games.

Filipek said that seeing her team come through in the clutch is something every coach wants to see.

“I saw so much fight and determination from our girls until the very end,” Filipek said. “We knew going in that both of these teams were going to be great competitors, and we were going to have to put out the best routines possible to secure a win. We have never had games be this close in our two seasons of stunt, so I am incredibly proud that they remained calm under pressure and rose to the occasion.”

The coach said that stunt is a fast-paced, competitive team sport that takes the athletic elements from traditional sideline cheerleading and puts them into a game-style format. Teams compete head-to-head in four different quarters: partner stunts, pyramids and tosses, jumps and tumbling, and team routines. Teams are given pre-choreographed routines and are judged on technique, synchronization, and execution.

Filipek added that seeing the program grow since its inception is a testament to the athletes, the coaches, and the school community, working together to make a popular sport more popular.

“We have increased our roster from 15 to 23 athletes this year,” Filipek said. “Not only has this sport drawn interest from WHS cheerleaders, but also from students who participate in club gymnastics and dance. This is an amazing sport for those who love the tumbling and high-flying stunts of cheerleading.

“We have great leadership on our team, with 10 returning members who have really stepped up to demonstrate what our program is about,” Filipek continued. “My goal for this upcoming year is to continue improving our technique in each practice and game. While wins are great, I love seeing our athletes grow in their skills and confidence throughout the season. The team is working on being the best that they can be and not settling for anything less.” 

Beaird said that, while her background in the sport was limited when she was first introduced, the stunt team has become a second family.

“I didn’t know much about stunt before joining the team,” she said. "The atmosphere is great. Everyone is very uplifting and supportive of one another, and we all work hard to be good teammates.” 

Warrenton will continue its work throughout the rest of the spring, including on Saturday (April 18) when the team hosts the GAC Tournament with other conference schools – Troy, Fort Zumwalt South, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt North and Ursuline.

Members of the team are: Beaird, seniors Emma Robinson and Beaird; junior Carleigh Steinhoff, Mackenzie Daniel, Grace Logan, Jocelyn Potter, Mikayla Reynolds, Avery Kieffer, Sofia Murphy, Kendall Siefert, Arianna Loeffler, Micaiah Lindeman, Rosey Gossett, and Maddison Mueller; sophomores Eme Murphy, Brooklyn Schneider, Adalyn Rader, Myah Stoesz and Maria Garcia-Baquero; and freshmen Bailey Daniel, Sophia Gagliano, Charlotte Cline and Anna Christy.