On the final day of varsity stunt’s inaugural season, an opportunity to advance to CIF-Southern Section playoffs was on the line in a rematch against San Clemente and Orange Lutheran high schools in the Wildcat gym on April 23.
In the opening game, the Wildcats narrowly defeated Orange Lutheran, 14-13, stunt’s second victory over the Lancers this season.
“During practice, coach would say not to let [our opponent] get in our heads, even if they are good,” Jamisen Chacon, senior, said. “I think everyone took that into consideration, and we knew we had the skill to win. We stayed calm and collected, allowing us to come out on top.”
The second game was a rematch against San Clemente, who beat the Wildcats 24-3 on April 15. A win against the Tritons would send stunt to the playoffs.
To prepare for San Clemente, the team studied film of the first match and focused on improving their tumbling routines, stunting skills, and motions to eliminate the small errors in execution that led to the 21-point loss.
“The team did not get discouraged. We got right back to work. We found their weaknesses and worked extremely hard not to lose the same way again,” Stefanie Camarena, head coach, said. “I asked the team the night we lost to ‘eat, sleep, and breathe’ these routines, skills, and counts and I promised we would be competitive with them the next game and they did just that.”
The team’s improvement was evident from the opening whistle.
In the first quarter, the Tritons scored the first point on the Wildcats, but the teams stayed even through the fourth quarter with every tumbling pass and toss.
In the final quarter, with the Wildcats ahead 11-10, San Clemente called a level six routine that the Wildcats were unable to perform, resulting in a forfeit of the routine. The Tritons scored the final three points and prevailed, 13-11.
Despite the loss, the Wildcats were pleased with the result.
“We really improved since the first time we played San Clemente,” Chacon said. “Practice was challenging, and our coach pushed us to our limit, but in the end we persevered.”
“Of course we all wanted to win, but the fact that we gave the defending league champs a run for their money right down to the last possession was ‘winning’ in itself. Proud is an understatement,” Camarena said.
Chacon, along with Sophia Thompson, senior, Sophie Viramontes, junior, and Katie Langan, sophomore, were named “power-players” with 21 points each. A power player is determined based on the skills successfully executed and the points accumulated during the game.
After the contests, the stunt seniors assembled on the mat with their teammates for the last time as they celebrated a successful debut season that saw the fledgling program boast a 4-2 record and a near-victory over defending Orange Coast League champion San Clemente.
“It was a beautiful night honoring our seniors. They played their hearts out and it showed,” Camarena said.
Chacon will miss “getting closer to people and trying to lead the team in a positive way.” The senior added, “I liked starting from the bottom to almost making CIF.”
Thompson said, “I enjoyed seeing everyone work hard and share the same goal. Even though we didn’t win every [game], we all wanted the same thing. I’ll also miss the competitiveness and the athleticism [of stunt].”
Camarena, a 20-year veteran of coaching Wildcat cheer, is optimistic about what’s to come for her athletes.
“The future of Brea O stunt is looking extremely bright. These athletes inspire me to bring my best, and that’s what I intend to do for this program in the future,” Camarena said.
