The No. 9-ranked Ashland University STUNT team competed in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Championship on Saturday, March 29 finishing in second place after an action-packed day of competition.
The Eagles’ playoff journey included a dramatic overtime win in the semifinals, followed by a challenging loss in the championship game.
The Eagles kicked off the day with a semifinal matchup against No. 12-ranked Tiffin University at 1:30 p.m. In what became the first overtime game in program history at an Ashland home event, the Eagles pulled off a thrilling 16-15 victory.
The intensity of the game had the crowd on edge, and Head STUNT Coach Denise Farnsworth was thrilled to see her team take part in such a pivotal moment. “Overtime is stressful, and I love that Ashland got to see it finally,” Farnsworth said, reflecting on the energy from both the team and fans.
Senior flyer/tumbler Alyssa McLaughlin also shared her excitement, noting that the overtime experience would help prepare the team for the close games they can expect at nationals. “It really prepares us, because at nationals, there’s a lot of really close games,” McLaughlin said.
Following the hard-fought victory, the Eagles faced No. 1-ranked Davenport University in the championship game at 5:00 p.m. Unfortunately, Ashland lost 24-3 to Davenport.
Despite the loss, Coach Farnsworth took pride in her team’s effort and progress. “This is the most points we’ve scored against them,” Farnsworth remarked. “We went in with some personal goals that we had set, and we knew we were pretty outmatched from the get-go.”
Although they came up short in the championship, the Eagles runner-up finish marked a significant achievement for the team. Their resilience throughout the competition showed their growth and determination as they look forward to nationals.
With the G-MAC season now behind them, the Eagles are gearing up for their final home matches of the season, scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The team will face Heidelberg University at 10:00 a.m. and St. Elizabeth University at 1:45 p.m. These matches will provide Ashland with an opportunity to fine-tune their performance before heading into nationals.
As they reflect on their successful GMAC playoff run, Ashland’s focus shifts to the national stage, where they’ll look to build on the momentum they’ve gained throughout the season and make a strong push for the title.
