Throughout the years, the school has boasted top teams in a variety of sports. Teams that have won leagues, eviscerated competition, and even made it all the way to state championships, something that programs dream of from the moment of their first practice. For Newbury Park STUNT, a program that is as young as it gets in terms of athletic programs, this dream has become a reality in a historic season that led to an appearance in the State Championships in Fresno.
Silvia Ortega, head coach, was hired in 2025 and had been the main catalyst for a culture shift that stresses the idea of not just winning but reaching the athletes when doing so and creating a sense of community that translates to performance.
“I just wanted to be part of creating something special for the school and helping set a standard for what the program could become,” Ortega said, “The opportunity to build history with these athletes and give them experiences they’ll remember forever was something I couldn’t pass up.”
The team finished 8-2 in regular season matches, only losing to one school in this time frame before sweeping CIF Southern’s 3-0. The season ended with a tight-knit 25-22 defeat in the hands of the Birmingham Charter Patriots. Despite this, however, the impact of the season is one that can never be wiped away, both for the coaches and the players.
Keely Norris, junior, has had a season she will never forget, one where she led the team in overall scoring twice, and also one that taught her the importance of building relationships.
“STUNT is something different than cheer,” Norris said, “You have to rely on the other girls to succeed, and that’s what we needed every game this season.”
The accomplishments this season did not just reaffirm to upperclassmen what it takes to win, but also taught those new to the program how they can continue to succeed in the future. Cailin Samojen, freshman, was a three-time top scorer for her grade and was a key contributor.
“We all trusted each other like we were family,” Samojen said, “and connection is important, especially when establishing roles within routines.”
The sport itself is not meant to be figured out mid-match; every athlete has to know their job and execution in their performance, including being aware of their reliance on others.
The success this year did not just come in pure talent and ability, but it was also the community and tightness as a program and team that was able to propel this team to heights they have not been before.
“This year’s success means a lot because it represents the hard work, trust and commitment this team put in from day one,” Ortega said. “More than anything, I’m proud of the culture this team created and the way they represented the program, the school and each other.”