Stunt Takes Center Stage: HPU’s Newest Sport Debuts on Sharks Weekly

This week’s show welcomed Hawai‘i Pacific University’s newest program to the ‘ohana: HPU Stunt. Host Jeffrey Rich sat down at the HPU Esports Arena with head coach James Burns and student-athletes Charlotte Maravilla and Alexis Haag to unpack what makes this emerging sport such an exciting addition to campus life and the NCAA landscape.

Burns, known around HPU for elevating the Cheer program, explained that Stunt is a fast, fan-friendly head-to-head format where two teams execute the same routine side-by-side on a nine-panel floor. Scores hinge on clean execution and error reduction rather than choreography flash. Routines are built from standardized categories—jumps & tumbling (1–8), partner stunts (1–8), and pyramids & tosses (1–8)—with difficulty scaling up each level. For a first-year squad, Burns is emphasizing mastery of the foundation sets (levels 1–3) so the Sharks can compete confidently in every quarter.

Just as important as difficulty is safety and trust. Burns walked listeners through the practice rhythm—extended warm-ups, mobility, stretching, then unit work—plus a relentless focus on spotting and progression so athletes never attempt a new stunt without layers of support. The team is young and enthusiastic (“6 a.m. comes early,” Burns laughed), and their willingness to learn has accelerated chemistry on the mat.

Maravilla (California) and Haag (Maryland) gave a student-athlete view of year one. Maravilla, who found Stunt after years in dance and high-school cheer, called the atmosphere “cutthroat in the best way”—competitive, precise, and addictive once a group locks into rhythm. Haag shared that, even coming from a state where Stunt isn’t widely known, the transition has been welcoming and energizing; the mostly-freshman roster has quickly become her day-one support system on campus.

HPU’s launch is historic: this is the first collegiate Stunt team in Hawai‘i. Without in-state opponents (for now), Burns is building momentum through outreach—spring clinics, on-island exhibitions, and recruiting that already stretches from California and Texas to Oklahoma and beyond. Stunt also plays nicely with others: several Sharks will dual-roster with cheer, with Burns coordinating schedules to protect academics and recovery.

Circle the date: HPU Stunt’s first competition will be The Joust at California Baptist University in March. The Sharks won’t host in this inaugural season but aim to bring matches to Honolulu as early as next year. With 17 athletes now and a target of ~25 for competitive depth, HPU is laying the groundwork to grow the sport locally—high schools included—and to give Hawai‘i fans something new to cheer.

From flips to pyramids, from fundamentals to fearlessness, Stunt at HPU is already writing its origin story—one clean rep at a time.

Get in touch with coach James Burns: jmburns@hpu.edu