Wheeling, W. Va. – The 2026 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships wrapped up with a special recognition for top-performing students. This year, the NCATA announced its Academic Honor Roll, celebrating student-athletes with a GPA of 3.30 or higher.
For the second year in a row, the Wheeling University Acrobatics & Tumbling team had a strong showing, with 13 student-athletes making the list. This academic achievement reflects their dedication in the classroom, alongside their impressive performance in competitions.
To qualify for the NCATA Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must actively participate in their team and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30. The Wheeling Cardinals, now in their second year, excelled academically. Notably, two of the honorees represented the team at the 2025 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Event Finals.
On the competition mat, the Cardinals also achieved remarkable success, breaking 14 program records in their final matches against Fairmont State and Frostburg State.
Among the 13 honorees are standout athletes like Abigail Farlaino, Gianna Bjorn, Gabriella Jantz, and Jenna Smith. Bjorn and Jantz were part of the Trio Pass that secured third place at the MEC Event Finals. Impressively, five freshmen made the honor roll in their inaugural season.
In total, the Wheeling program has celebrated 31 student-athletes for their academic excellence over its first two years, a significant increase from the 18 honored last year.
As they gear up for the 2027 season, the Wheeling University Acrobatics & Tumbling team shows no signs of slowing down, blending sports with academic dedication.
For further information about the NCATA and its academic initiatives, visit NCATA’s official page.
