by Cara Farr ’27

As the end of spring sports is approaching, so is the end of gymnastics permanently in all of MCPS. Despite protests by communities involved with the last seven schools, including Sherwood, that have a gymnastics program, MCPS will no longer be the last county standing in Maryland to offer gymnastics as an interscholastic sport to its students. Looking to bring in more female athletes is a new sport called STUNT.

Currently in its pilot season, a STUNT program was offered to the 18 high schools without gymnastics programs, with the thirteen accepting. “Our long-term goal is to achieve full countywide expansion following the review of the pilot program,” said Anne Rossiter, who is the head of the program for MCPS. Assuming the pilot season is successful, the program will expand and become available in all MCPS high schools.

STUNT is a competitive cheerleading event in which two teams will go head to head and compete in the same routine simultaneously. Four different skills are showcased across the four quarters. The team that executes the routine better in both technique and synchronization wins the point for that quarter. The first three quarters are worth one point each, and the fourth quarter is worth 3 points. In the rare case that there is a tie, overtime will occur, where each team performs a section of their final routine a second time. The first quarter focuses on partner stunts, the second on pyramids and tosses, the third on jumps and tumbling, and the fourth quarter is a team routine.

At Sherwood’s final home gymnastics match, Gary Peters was honored for his 40 years of dedication to the sport and the school. As the gymnastics coach for many years, he has made a huge impact, not only on the athletes he coaches but the Sherwood athletics community as well.

Current junior Megan McNichol mentioned the impact Peters has had on her as a coach for the past two years. “I am going to miss the team as a whole, and having Gary Peters as my coach,” said McNichol. “He has taught me so much and truly made me a better gymnast.”