NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Missouri State STUNT (16-14) will be competing in the 2026 College STUNT National Championship, with first round action on Friday, April 24 at 8:00 a.m. against No. 5 seed Mercyhurst, in Nashville, Tenn. Missouri State is seeded No. 4.

The event will be held in Nashville at Lipscomb University from April 23–26. The other Division I qualifiers in the double-elimination bracket are Cal Baptist, Kentucky, Cal Poly and Mercyhurst.

If Missouri State is able to overcome Mercyhurst in the first round, they face the top seed and reigning champions Cal Baptist in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

"We're very excited to be here to compete at the highest level," stated head coach Kennedy Wingbermuehle. 

"As a second year team, this is an impressive feat that we are extremely proud of. This group of girls have made this year very special. We have worked hard for this opportunity and will prove that we belong here."

Upcoming Schedule
Friday, April 24

• 8:00 a.m. vs. #5 Mercyhurst

Saturday, April 25

• Winner's Bracket – 10:20 a.m. vs. Cal Baptist
• Consolation Bracket – 11:20 a.m. vs. Kentucky or Cal Poly

Head Coach Kennedy Wingbermuehle
Kennedy Wingbermuehle was named as the inaugural head coach for Missouri State's new STUNT team on Feb. 27, 2024.

Wingbermuehle oversaw Missouri State STUNT's inaugural season in 2025, where the Bears competed at the Division I level. She guided Missouri State to its first-ever STUNT win on Feb. 15, 2025, over Drury in a tournament hosted by Oklahoma Baptist University.

MoState went 9-18 in its first year in STUNT, including going 3-5 in the regular season in Mid America West Conference play. The Bears defeated previous 2024 NCAA Tournament team Central Arkansas to advance to day two of the Mid America West Conference Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky.

Wingbermuehle also helped Missouri State flyer/tumbler/top Peighton Powell to be named to the All Mid America West Tournament Second Team in 2025, the first all-tournament honor in program history.

STUNT Bears

• STUNT has officially been approved as an NCAA championship sport following a vote by NCAA membership at the 2026 NCAA Convention, marking a major milestone for Missouri State STUNT and women's collegiate athletics nationwide. The first NCAA STUNT championship is projected for spring 2027 and will feature a National Collegiate Championship in which student-athletes from all three divisions compete for a single national title.
• Collegiate STUNT is divided between the Division I, II, III, NAIA and Club levels.

Series History

• Missouri State has a 1-3 record against Mercyhurst University, after winning the latest match-up on 03/20/26 against the Lakers with a hard-fought 30-21 scoreline.
• The Bears have a 0-3 record against Cal Baptist after losing the latest match-up on 03/21/26 against the Lancers with a 0-24 scoreline.
• The Bears have a 0-4 record against the University of Kentucky, after losing the latest match-up on 04/12/26 against the Wildcats with a 6-27 scoreline.
• The Bears have a 0-1 record against Cal Poly after losing the latest match-up on 02/20/26 against the Mustangs with a 9-28 scoreline.

Mid America West Conference

• Missouri State STUNT competes in the Mid America West Conference, a Division I STUNT conference that consists of Central Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri State, Mercyhurst, Northern Kentucky, and UT Martin.
• Missouri State beat UT Martin twice and lost to Kentucky twice en-route to earning a second place finish at the Mid America West Conference Tournament.
• Senior Autumn Speckhart was awarded first-team all-conference honors while sophomore Kaybrie Sharp was awarded second-team honors.

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