ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon athletics department earned the Erie Sports Commission's 2018 National Event of the Year for its hosting of the 2018 NCATA National Championships last season. Gannon picked up the award at the Erie Sports Commission's Even Recognition and Awards Dinner Feb. 21.

The National Event of the Year is presented to an event that had a significant impact on the Erie region, drawing large participation numbers, noteworthy media attention and positive social and economic impact for the region.

The 2018 NCATA National Championships brought the top eight acrobatics and tumbling teams in the nation to the Hammermill Center for three days of championship competition April 26-28, 2018. Nearly 400 student-athletes descended on Erie as teams from Baylor, Asuza Pacific, Quinnipiac, Oregon, Fairmont State, Hawaii Pacific and Converse joined Gannon in the eight-team field.

Four quarterfinal dual meets were held throughout the day Thursday, followed by semifinals on Friday evening and the team final and individual event championships on Saturday.

It was just the third time in eight years that the NCATA selected an Eastern site for its national championships.

The 2018 NCATA National Championships was the second national championship event hosted by Gannon in Erie in the past five years after hosting the 2014 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight at Erie Insurance Arena.