AUSTIN, Texas — Momentum is no longer theoretical for St. Edward's STUNT.

Entering its second season in 2026, the Hilltoppers return with experience, depth, and a sharper understanding of what it takes to compete in a sport that is growing rapidly — both nationally and within the Lone Star Conference. The timing is notable. STUNT is now officially recognized as an NCAA Championship sport, with the first NCAA STUNT National Championship scheduled for Spring 2027, placing this season squarely at the intersection of foundation and future.

"We were building something from the ground up," head coach Sean Garland said. "We didn't just want to participate. We wanted to do it the right way — with purpose, culture, and execution."

That approach was tested immediately during St. Edward's inaugural 2025 campaign. With the coaching staff assembled midyear and limited time to prepare, the Hilltoppers were tasked with learning a new sport, a new scoring system, and a new competitive rhythm — all at once. The learning curve was steep, but the progress was tangible. St. Edward's finished its first season with four wins, including a milestone home victory that validated months of early-morning practices and late-night walkthroughs.

"That first home win was the moment," graduate student JAHENNESSY PARRA said. "That's when it really hit — we can do this. We can build something real here."

Year two brings a shift in focus. The foundation is no longer theoretical. The Hilltoppers now turn their attention toward refinement — building consistency across full games, managing energy through eight routines, and competing with intention rather than introduction. At the center of that growth is culture, a word that surfaces often inside the program.

"We're really big on culture," team captain Olivia Saldaña said. "Preseason matters. It's where we build trust before we ever step on the mat."

That trust has carried into a roster that blends experienced leadership with a wave of new energy. Freshmen arrived on campus already connected, already invested, and already aligned with expectations. BAYLE DELGADO described the transition as seamless.

"There was no negative energy," Delgado said. "Everyone wanted to be here. Everyone wanted to win."

The roster's balance is anchored by veterans like Parra, who returns for a fifth year after completing her undergraduate degree, providing continuity for a young program still defining itself. Alongside her is sophomore ELENA LA ROSA, one of the program's most dynamic performers and one of three Hilltoppers named to the Lone Star Conference's preseason Athletes to Watch list.

"If there's a will, there's a way," La Rosa said. "Last year proved that. Now it's about building on it."

La Rosa is joined on the preseason watch list by freshmen CHAINEY LEWIS and GISELLE JUAREZ, recognition that reflects both individual talent and the program's growing depth.

That depth will be tested early and often. St. Edward's 2026 schedule offers no easing into competition, featuring multiple Division I opponents, including Michigan and Kentucky, alongside key Lone Star Conference matchups and multi-day tournaments. The demands are clear: sustained focus, clean execution, and the ability to respond across long weekends.

"That's the jump," Saldaña said. "You're not just mastering the basics anymore. You're performing full games. Eight routines. It takes trust."

The season's focal point arrives March 6–7, when St. Edward's hosts the largest Division II STUNT tournament in the nation at the Recreation and Athletic Center in Austin. Nine programs and hundreds of student-athletes will converge on the Hilltop, turning Austin into a two-day showcase for a sport on the rise and a program gaining traction.

"It's going to be electric," assistant coach Sydney McIntosh said. "You can feel the momentum building."

McIntosh, who competed in STUNT before transitioning into coaching, brings perspective that resonates with a roster navigating rapid growth.

"I was on a first-year team too," McIntosh said. "Helping athletes move from learning the sport to helping shape the program — that's meaningful."

As STUNT becomes the NCAA's 94th championship sport, the 2026 season carries added weight. With the first NCAA Championship scheduled for Spring 2027, programs across the country are positioning themselves not just to compete, but to establish standards.

For St. Edward's, year two is about clarity. The Hilltoppers understand the demands — early mornings, travel-heavy weekends, academic balance — and now meet them with confidence earned through experience.

"I'm in the business of creating memories," Garland said. "The kind that last beyond the season."

For a program still writing its early chapters, 2026 is less about arrival and more about intent. The Hilltoppers are no longer introducing themselves. They are refining who they are — and laying the groundwork for what comes next.