Santiago and Centennial STUNT teams advance to CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals
By Eric-Paul Johnson, The Press-Enterprise The Tribune Content Agency
CORONA - The “Battle of Rimpau Avenue” is headed to Brea.
Centennial STUNT Cheer member Lyric Carter, #42, flips during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matche at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer member Maddie Hackworth, center, and teammates compete in the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matche at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial flier Jazmyn Delgadillo gets air against Camarillo during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial STUNT Cheer fliers from left Abigail Maynard, Isabella Desantos, and Jazmyn Delgadillo are thrown in unison as they compete against Camarillo in the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer tumbler Keira Rezner flips against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago flier Amelia Ramos, #6, is thrown by teammates against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer teammates support each other against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago Ella Siders, #12, twists for landing from a pyramid stunt during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Fans watch Centennial and Camarillo compete in the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer members support a flier against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial STUNT Cheer member Kaliyah Thomas, right, during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial's McKayla Tejada uses a fan to cool off during a timeout against Camarillo during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago's Veronica Petit, left, fans teammate Payton Spence during a timeout against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial head coach Ebone McKinsey, from left, laughs with players Dylan Torres and McKayla Tejada during a timeout against Camarillo in the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer member Ireland Kelly ,#17, and teammates celebrate their 31-16 victory over San Clemente in the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial STUNT Cheer members from left Heaven Gilliam, Nevaeh Barret, Rachel Pena, McKayla Tejada, and Dylan Torres pose for a team photo after defeating Camarillo 29-16 to win a CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer members straighten the lines on the mat against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal match at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santiago STUNT Cheer perform a stunt against San Clemente during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Centennial STUNT Cheer members from left Dylan Torres, #12, Heaven Gilliam, #6, and Kailey Gutierrez, # 21, support the flier during the CIF Southern Section STUNT quarterfinal matches at Santiago in Corona on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The STUNT teams from crosstown rivals Santiago and Centennial cruised to victory Thursday evening in quarterfinal matches of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The teams square off in the semifinals Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Brea Olinda High.
seeded Santiago knocked off No. 9 San Clemente 31-16, while No. 5-seeded Centennial took down No. 4 Camarillo 29-16.
The Division 1 semifinals will have plenty of Inland flavor. No. 2-seeded Temecula Valley beat No. 7 Santa Fe 36-20 on Thursday and face No. 3 South Hills in the 2:30 p.m. semifinal Saturday. The winners then will compete for the championship at 5:30 p.m.
STUNT is a sport that incorporates skills derived from cheerleading, with teams executing the same pre-choreographed routines side by side. Each match is four quarters: partner stunts; pyramids and tosses; jumps and tumbling, and team routines featuring all of the aforementioned skills. There are four routines performed each quarter, with judges awarding points based on execution.
The sport has been around for several years and the California Interscholastic Federation has had state championships the past two seasons. However, this marks the first season the CIF Southern Section will be crowning its own champions in two divisions.
“It’s fun to see how this sport has evolved,” Santiago’s Keira Rezner said. “It’s cool to be competing in CIF like the other sports.”
Santiago (18-1) outscored San Clemente (13-4) in 13 of the 16 routines, and the teams shared a point apiece in the other three.
Santiago grabbed a 5-1 lead after the first quarter (partner stunts) and also outscored San Clemente 5-3 in pyramids and tosses. The discipline the Sharks excelled most was jumps and tumbling, picking up seven of a possible eight points in the third quarter.
“I think our tumbling really helped us, and Keira is such a strong tumbler for us,” Santiago’s Aubrey Haney said. “We work really hard on it every day and it really showed today. We were on point (in that discipline) and it gave us momentum (after halftime).”
Added Santiago assistant coach Savannah Schalip: “We always feel like our tumblers are our secret weapon. If we’re down in a match, they always seem to kick us back up. And our sideline gives them all the energy and love they need to push on through.”
Teams can earn up to two points per routine in the first three periods, but a maximum of six points are up for grabs in the fourth, as the teams are judged on the three disciplines. Santiago closed the match strong, outscoring the Tritons 14-9 in team routines.
Haney said being the No. 1-seeded team for the playoffs brings some pressure.
“We feel that a little bit, but pressure is a privilege,” Haney said. “I think it’s fun (being the top seed). Everything is a challenge.”
Centennial (11-2) outscored Camarillo (18-3) in 11 of the routines Thursday and shared points with the Scorpions in three others. Coach Ebone McKinsey believed her squad was strongest in the partner stunts Thursday night. Centennial outscored Camarillo 4-1 during the opening quarter, and the Huskies picked up four additional points for partner stunts across the four team routines.
“That’s because we practice it the entire year,” McKinsey said. “Sideline is stunting, competition is stunting. We have a practice schedule that prepares us for moments like this. We’re going to work on something until we know we can be the very best at it.”
The match was still up for grabs late, as Centennial was clinging to a 13-8 advantage heading to the final quarter of competition. The Huskies outscored Camarillo in all four team routines, including two five-pointers and another routine which they prevailed 3-0.
“This feel great, and I have been so confident in this team,” Centennial co-captain Dylan Torres said. “We have had many tough matches this season, but we keep pushing through. We keep hopping over any obstacles, and I’m so proud of what we’re doing.”
Added co-captain McKayla Tejada: “It’s all about the energy. We keep it a high level and help each other get through the game.”
Saturday’s semifinal will be the third meeting of the season. Santiago won the two Big VIII League matches, 29-21 and 31-25.
“We can’t be our own worst enemy” McKinsey said. “We can do this. We just need to focus on ourselves and what we’re doing.
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 10:44 AM.
