Reaching the Top of the Pyramid

Stuyvesant’s co-ed stunt team has had an extremely successful season due to their dedication and optimism throughout the year. Currently undefeated, the team has exhibited determination, teamwork, and skill in all of their matches, allowing them to succeed in the post-season. The team has won all nine of their games this season, including a highlight victory against Brooklyn Tech, which has riled them up for the remaining competitions.

This year, the stunt team focused on building sportsmanship to help them win games. Stunt routines require a higher level of trust than many other teams as the fliers must rely on the balance of the bases and backspots in each of their six groups, and the bases must trust the strength of the fliers. During a routine, the flier stands in between the two bases and lifts themself up onto the bases’ hands and shoulders, and the backspot steadies them from behind. The flier is required to keep their body as tight as possible for balance as they move to different positions in the air. The teammates must predict each others’ every move in order to prevent injuries from occurring. For example, if a flier jumps into a dismount and moves slightly off-center, the bases and backspot move accordingly to catch them as they fall, keeping the stunt safe. In pyramids, where fliers connect multiple stunt groups, they must rely on more than just their own routine group.

The team’s commitment, highlighted by the attendance of all 26 team members at practice every day, paid off in the regular season. Though the meets are important, a major portion of the work happens behind the scenes at practice. Though practices were lengthy and frequent, it was impossible for the team to master every skill perfectly. Senior and co-captain Johanna Wu said, “I didn’t feel confident in some routines I was in, but we always just shrugged them off.” Because the athletes put in all of their effort every day, they were able to overcome adversity, never wavering during games even when they were unsure of themselves. 

One dynamic that has significantly improved the team is the relationship between the upper and underclassmen. Their close relationships and constant support for each other almost resembles a family, forming a tight-knit community that was crucial throughout the season. “It is clear each athlete values the importance of teamwork and dedication,” Coach Jenna Freytag said. Their effort from pre-season to championships never wavers despite their grueling schedule, showing how much love each athlete has for this sport. 

Additionally, the captains and upperclassmen have exhibited superb leadership skills this year, further building the trust between athletes. In addition to leading stretches every practice for the entire season, they also consistently gave advice to the younger athletes on their form in routines. “The underclassmen respect the upperclassmen on the team, which creates a dynamic where they can learn and grow. [The co-captains] set the tone and keep their teammates responsible,” Freytag said. 

This individual commitment and strong chemistry was highlighted throughout the season, where the team frequently faced fierce competition. The ongoing rivalry between Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech reached new heights in one recent game. During this meet, the Peglegs had practically secured their win by the fourth quarter, and by the time they performed their last routine, the crowd was already celebrating their victory. Their confidence grew gradually after the first routine in the fourth quarter. “We were cheering louder than I have ever heard us cheer,” Wu said. The teammates knew they earned this win with their dedication and teamwork.

While Stuyvesant had achieved a successful season leading up to it, this win was meaningful, and for good reason, having been a part of the team that ended their rival’s years-long winning streak. Brooklyn Tech's stunt team hadn’t suffered a single loss since 2015 until Stuyvesant broke their record at this meet. “We won the first point,” sophomore Avery Brosnick said. Though a missing base in Brooklyn Tech’s team did tip the odds in Stuyvesant’s favor, Stuyvesant still deserves significant praise for their hard work and preparation, leading to an impressive showing by both teams. The excitement the athletes felt when their final routine was over motivated the team even more to win the championship game.

As for Brooklyn Tech, although they suffered a great loss, the Peglegs hoped that the relationship between the “sister teams” wouldn’t change. The rivalry has only grown more intense this season following Stuyvesant’s win. In previous seasons, Tech had consistently won more meets, even winning the championship several times, but something felt different this game. Tech’s team had practically no errors during warmup, but throughout the game, they began to make mistakes. Meanwhile, Stuyvesant’s warmup was not as encouraging, but the competed routines were more cohesive. Stuyvesant’s team had put in a lot of effort, and in this game, Brooklyn Tech had reason to feel just as intimidated as the Peglegs were.

Freytag has two clear missions for the team to achieve by the end of the season: prioritizing the athletes’ needs as well as their aspirations. Freytag said her main goals were to “keep everyone healthy and win City Championships,” which is now the only remaining meet for the team to compete in. Their undefeated season relied heavily on their ability to keep each player healthy, a huge achievement in such a dangerous sport. Stunt is extremely hands-on, and with people being tossed into the air and held up for long periods of time, it can get tiring, leaving the athletes prone to mistakes. To prevent this, the team takes measures every practice to pad the floors and wear the correct shoes and attire so the rest of their group can work with them. Another useful measure is to tape their wrists, which helps with stability when they are strained from the long hours that bases spend lifting up their teammates. In the event that someone does get injured, the athletes commonly use ice so they can quickly continue participating, since every athlete plays an important role.

Though they take great pride in beating other schools, practicing for hours every school day and competing in meets isn’t always just about winning. Their dedication helps them perform increasingly difficult skills and improve their confidence in tumbling and routines. “I love when I make my back handsprings,” Brosnick said. Handsprings, part of the tumbling portion of stunt, are more advanced skills for the team, where athletes jump from their feet onto their hands and push themselves back up. These skills can only be attained through constant practice, giving athletes the time and opportunity to hone and perfect their skills. 

Tensions are especially high for their final game this season, the City Championships. The Peglegs will compete against Brooklyn Tech once again in this last game, a matchup that many athletes are feeling confident about in light of their recent victory. As the season comes to an end, the biggest takeaway the teammates have is the close community they’ve created and the memories they formed together. Attending daily practices played a major role in alleviating the stress from their heavy workloads, and has had an overall positive impact on the team. As the Peglegs cherish their close community and reflect on all their accomplishments, they hope to end off their historic season on a positive note.