Azusa, Calif. – Duquesne University’s acrobatics and tumbling team wrapped up its first-ever NCATA Championship run with a tough loss to Baylor, the reigning champions. The final score was 273.385 to 250.770. This was only Duquesne’s second season, and they were the youngest team competing.
Despite the loss, Duquesne excelled in several heats. Briella Unger scored a solid 9.650 in the Aerial Pass, while Lindsay Kivlan achieved an impressive 9.775 in the Open Pass. They were not alone; the team had eight heats where they scored 9.500 or higher.
Coach Michaela Soper expressed pride in the team’s efforts, emphasizing their hard work and youth. “We’re a young team and a very young program — not just in skills but in age as well,” she noted. It’s remarkable how much they’ve achieved in such a short time.
In the Pyramid event, the team scored above 9.5 in all three heats. The Inversion Pyramid team scored 9.625, while both the Synchronized Pyramid and Open Pyramid scored 9.575 and 9.625, respectively. The team also had a commendable 9.55 in the Compulsory Pyramid.
Duquesne finished with an overall score of 250.770, though they faced 35.2 in deductions. Notably, they became only the second No. 8 seed in NCATA history to win multiple heats against a No. 1 seed.
The excitement doesn’t end here. Duquesne is awaiting news on qualification for the NCATA Individual Event Finals. These will take place this Sunday at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET).
The landscape of acrobatics and tumbling continues to evolve. A growing number of colleges across the U.S. are adding this sport to their athletic programs. In a recent survey, around 54% of new programs reported increased student interest each year. This reflects a larger trend where more young athletes are exploring diverse sporting avenues beyond traditional athletics.
If you’re curious about acrobatics and tumbling, you can find more information on the official NCATA website.
