(Ann Arbor, MI) The College STUNT Coaches Association (CSCA) announced their yearly awards and Hailey Hoyle was named the CSCA NAIA Athlete of the Year, while Savana Ruffner earned honorable mention All-American accolades.
Hailey Hoyle won the honor after being nominated by Head Coach Kate Edge, and voted the winner by STUNT coaches across the country. In August of 2022 Hailey was in a life altering car accident where during the emergency rescue she clinically died and was brought back to life. As a result of this accident Hailey endured 5 pelvic fractures, broke her femur, injured 5 vertebrae, broke two ribs, and sustained many other more minor injuries.
"We did not know if Hailey would live, much less walk or compete," said Edge. "However, her positive determination, attitude and belief in herself allowed her to lead the way in her own recovery and return to sport. When our STUNT season started, Hailey was just out of her wheelchair, but swore to us she would be competing by January. She was a bit off on her timeline, but compete she did. She was flying in routines 1 & 2 by our first February games, and this past weekend competed in those routines as well as Pyramids & Tosses 3 & 4, and even Jumps and Tumble #5. It almost seems surreal to us that she could even compete, much less in so many ways for our team.
In a short paragraph it is hard to summarize what her journey has impacted all of us or how having STUNT as an option for her to compete, was a life saver and motivator. Because of the design of STUNT, Hailey could progress through rehab and build her strength and skills up with each level of the routines. I think she is deserving of the NAIA STUNT Athlete of the Year because of her hard work, determination, commitment and overall contributions she made on our STUNT team. She truly is an example of how STUNT give opportunities to female athletes in unexpected and unplanned for ways."
Savana Ruffner, a freshman from New Boston, Michigan, was named to the CSCA All-American Honorable Mention team. The Coaches Association recognized student-athletes who met the following criteria:
- Participate in all 4 quarters of play (Quarter 1: Partner Stunts, Quarter 2: Pyramids and Tosses, Quarter 3: Jumps and Tumbling, Quarter 4: Team we Routine)
- Participate in at least 50% of games played
- Be a vital component to the team's success; power ranking
Ruffner is now the fourth Cardinal to earn CSCA All-American accolades, following Brianna Domagalski, Danyelle Beckesh, and Julia Griggs-Hendrix who were honored last season.
