BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor acrobatics and tumbling team has been ranked fifth in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association Championship Rankings, sealing its fate as the first Division III team to earn a spot at the national tournament.
UMHB is ranked fifth in the final championship rankings and will compete in the program's first NCATA National Championship. The Cru will face off against No. 4 Oregon University on Thursday, April 25
th at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
"I am so excited for this team and honored to represent not only the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor but all of Division III at this year's national championship," Head Coach
Raffaela Scotto said. "I know firsthand what this experience is like as a student-athlete and am so thrilled that our girls will get to experience it as well. Our team has worked so hard and grown so much in the last five years. I am so proud and honored to lead them as they continue to set new heights for our program."
Baylor University is ranked No. 1 and will open championship play against No. 8 Fairmont State at 7 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 25
th. The NCATA National Championship Tournament will open with No. 2 Quinnipiac and No. 7 Frostburg State at 10:30 a.m. (ET) with No. 3 Gannon and No. 6 Asuza Pacific competing at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
This year's NCATA Championship will be hosted by Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia. The eight-team, single-elimination tournament begins on Thursday, April 25
th and runs through Sunday, April 28th. UMHB will also qualify for event finals during Thursday's quarterfinal meet.
The NCATA championships committee considers the overall performance of teams throughout the season thus far and utilized the follow criteria to consider team rankings: W/L record, strength of schedule, head-to-head competition, common opponents, average meet score, average meet start value, score differential and the team's progression through the season.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the NCATA National Championship, visit
www.thencata.org.
