ROSEVILLE, CA (MPG) - History was made on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 at William Jessup University in Roseville, as the Liberty Ranch Hawks STUNT team delivered the most significant postseason run in program history. Competing in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships, Liberty Ranch swept through the quarterfinals, fought its way through a heart-stopping overtime semifinal and earned a second-place finish that punched their ticket to the California State Championships. For a program that has dominated league play for years, this was the moment the Hawks stepped onto an entirely new stage.

Liberty Ranch opened the postseason on May 1 with a statement performance against River Valley, winning the quarterfinal matchup 15-0. It was the kind of dominant showing that set the tone for what was to come: focused, disciplined and technically sharp from start to finish.

The semifinal on May 2 was a different story entirely, and arguably the most memorable moment in Liberty Ranch STUNT history. The Hawks faced Roseville in a match that neither team could put away in regulation. With the score tied at the final buzzer, the two programs headed into overtime: a nerve-wracking extra period that the Hawks ultimately won 29-27. The margin was razor thin, the stakes were enormous and the Liberty Ranch athletes delivered.

 

It takes moves like this to make it to the top. Photos courtesy of Big Bass Man

The section final against Twelve Bridges proved to be the toughest test of the day. The Hawks fought hard but fell 18-28 to the section champions, earning second place and ending their day with a result that, far from being a disappointment, made history for the program.

When the final score was announced, the emotions on the Liberty Ranch sideline said everything. The girls were jumping up and down, there were tears, and the kind of raw, genuine joy that only comes from knowing you have accomplished something that has never been done before at your school.

Head Coach Barbara Welch, who has built the Liberty Ranch STUNT program from its very first day, captured the moment perfectly.

“Winning 15-0 over River Valley in the quarterfinals and then battling through a 29-27 overtime game against Roseville in the semifinals really shows the heart of this team,” Welch said. “This is the first time we’ve ever made it past semifinals, and to now be headed to the state championships is something these athletes have truly earned. We’ve competed at a D2 level all season and to now be seeded as a D1 team speaks to their growth and resilience. This group is focused on leaving a legacy at Liberty Ranch High School, and they’ve already made history.”

The CIF Commissioner congratulates Head Coach Barbara Welch. Photo courtesy of Big Bass Man

What makes the Hawks’ state qualification even more remarkable is the level at which they will compete. Despite spending the entire season competing in Division 2, both Liberty Ranch and Twelve Bridges have been moved up to compete in the Division 1 State Finals by CIF and USA Cheer. They will join Oakridge – the Northern California Division 1 section champion and reigning state champion from a year ago – as part of what promises to be one of the most competitive state championship fields in recent memory. For a program that has been building toward this moment for years, the challenge could not be more fitting.

The Hawks’ postseason success did not come out of nowhere. Liberty Ranch was undefeated in league play this season, outscoring opponents by wide margins in every matchup. The Hawks beat Galt 26-3, Amador 28-4, Bradshaw Christian 33-11, Argonaut 25-2, El Dorado 22-0 and Union Mine 24-0 on their way to a perfect league record. Their only two losses on the season came against Oakridge, 14-29, and Clayton Valley, 16-34: two programs that are widely considered among the very best in the state of California.

Rather than discourage the team, those early-season losses against elite competition served as a measuring stick and a motivator. The Hawks knew what the best looked like, and they spent the rest of the season working to close the gap.

Now, with a historic second-place section finish, a state championship berth and a program forever changed by what this group has accomplished, the Liberty Ranch STUNT team heads to the state finals with momentum, confidence and the full support of the Galt community behind them. Coach Welch has said these girls are focused on leaving a legacy at Liberty Ranch, and by any measure, that legacy is already well underway.

 

Some of the team show off the Competitive Sport Cheer Finalist Plaque. Photo courtesy of Big Bass Man

For fans and parents looking to follow the team’s journey, a quick note: STUNT can be difficult to locate on the CIF website because the sport is listed under the name Competitive Sport Cheer rather than STUNT. Do not let the name fool you. This is a fully CIF-sanctioned competitive sport in its own right, with head-to-head match play, structured rounds and official judging criteria. It is athletic, technical and every bit as demanding as any other sport on the CIF calendar. Now that you know where to find it, it is well worth following.