Photo courtesy of UMHB Athletics
For the first time in program history, UMHB Acrobatics & Tumbling is headed to the NCATA National Tournament, having secured the No. 5 seed with its pair of wins at the DIII Invitational in Mequon, Wisconsin this past weekend.
The Cru, who are 9-1 overall, will open competition in Fairmont, West Virginia on April 25, facing fourth-seeded Oregon (3-3 overall) at 4:30 p.m. ET. UMHB is coming off its second-straight DIII Invitational title and is in its fifth year as a program. The Crusaders are 2-1 against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
“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,” UMHB Head Coach Raffaela Scotto said in a press release. “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.”
The single-elimination tournament is composed of eight teams; Baylor, Quinnipac, Gannon, Oregon, UMHB, Azusa Pacific, Frostburg State, and Fairmont State. While the NCATA does not have divisions like the NCAA, UMHB is the only NCAA Division III institution to be selected to the 2024 national tournament. Competition begins on April 25 and runs through April 28.
The winner of UMHB/Oregon will face the winner of Baylor/Fairmont State on April 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET in the semifinals. The championship is set for 5:00 p.m.. ET on Saturday.
