Ferris State Athletics has introduced a new varsity sport for the first time in 25 years.
The Ferris State University Cheer and STUNT team is set to make its debut this fall on the sidelines of FSU home football games.
This team will serve as the 18th fully funded varsity sport Ferris offers within its athletic ventures. It is the ninth women’s sport currently offered on the FSU roster.
STUNT is a women’s sport that breaks down the components of cheer, with a greater focus on technical and athletic skills.
The sport is a head-to-head competition, meaning that competing teams receive the same material to learn and compete with.
Athletes have trained in chants and stunts remotely over the summer, with the athletic camp set to begin as the semester begins.
Beyond the football season, the team will take on several competitive games as affiliates of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, with their season beginning in February 2026.
There are 21 games before the postseason, with an additional four added with competition in the conference.
Athletes will have the opportunity to compete at nationals if they do well at the games within the conference.
The team has 39 athletes, ten of whom are current FSU students.
Athletes are recruited for the team based on skill clinics and GPA requirements.
Cheer and STUNT coach Perrmella Harris stated that the team will engage in more than competition.
“They have to do 20 hours of community service, so you will see our program definitely out and about in the community,” said Harris. “Giving back to the community is really important for them to realize, and that we definitely want the support of the community, because this is something new.”
Harris further explained that Ferris is not yet qualified to offer a GLIAC STUNT program, but the opportunity may arise in the future.
Among the community outreach events planned are opportunities for elementary students in the area to learn and practice with the team, as well as volunteer work at local senior living centers.
Harris was designated as coach in September 2024 when the program launched. She owned and operated her studio in Livonia for 25 years, followed by further experience at the high school and collegiate level.
Dental Hygiene junior Amaya Fairley expressed appreciation for the sport empowering young women.
“It’s very empowering, being a woman especially, and it’s a women’s sport, so that’s awesome for us,” Fairley said. “STUNT is also generally a new sport and the fact that Ferris was able to jump on that bandwagon is empowering for sure.”
Fairley also emphasized that an official varsity Cheer and STUNT team will help the student body understand that Cheer is a real sport with technical skills acquired through extensive practice.
Several of the athletes on the team have extensive backgrounds in cheer, STUNT, or gymnastics, with the team now providing an opportunity to compete and show off their skills.
“It’s going to be nice to compete again,” Fairley said. “It is a different competition, but to be able to compete and showcase your skills and be ranked for yourself and not your football team, that is so nice.”
Ferris is the newest college in Michigan to offer a varsity cheer and STUNT team, joining Davenport University, Purdue Northwest, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University.
Nursing junior Carmen Kaltenbach expressed hope that students will begin to see cheer for the sport it truly is.
“It’s not just curled hair and bows all the time,” Kaltenbach said. “It is blood, sweat, and tears, just like any other sport. Once they see how well we are performing, they’ll understand how hard we have to practice.”
The team will host skill clinics in the fall, winter and spring to fill needed positions before the competition season.