ERIE, Pa. — The evolution of both the Gannon acrobatics and tumbling team and its sport in general is moving at a rapid pace.
 
Exciting news came out of the NCAA convention in January, when acrobatics and tumbling was voted into the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. At the same time, Gannon is looking to make its next step forward after having established itself as one of the top handful of teams in the country.
 
The Knights will open the 2020 season ranked fifth in the NCATA coaches poll, matching its highest rank to start a season, and they will be in search of a fifth consecutive trip to nationals.
 
"Overall we are very excited for this year," said coach Jacquie Eshleman, who is entering her third year at the helm. "We have an incredible group of athletes who continue to push themselves and hit new limits. Our returners have done a fantastic job leading and teaching our freshmen, and our freshmen class has really stepped up to the plate to continue on the legacy of our alumni.
 
"This team is hungry, and they want to show everyone who Gannon is."
 
Gannon will kick off the 2020 season at home on Sunday, facing off with Adrian at the Hammermill Center at 1 p.m. After their annual Make-A-Wish meet Feb. 15, the Knights will close the regular season with a tough slate, facing four straight ranked opponents, including four-time defending national champion Baylor.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
 
Base

Returners: Jocelyn Scott (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), Sydney Hess (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), Sammy Gouge (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek), Lauren Arroyo (West Covina, Calif./Mater Dei), Brittney McNiff (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield), Ashley Barrish (West Berlin, N.J./Overbrook), Daniela Ochoa (Fairhaven, Mass./Old Rochester Regional), Montana Olexa (West Newton, Pa./Yough), Lauren Zemanek (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek)

Newcomers: Addy Wolmeldorph, Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro), Alexis Tosado (Sparks, Nev./Edward C. Reed), Hailey Shepard (Reno, Nev./Damonte Ranch), Sophie Binsol (Waldorf, Md./Westlake), Morgan Gilbert (Black River, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Central), Maddie Olsen (Phoenix, Ariz./Chandler Prep)

Coach Speak: "We return senior Jocelyn Scott (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), who will be a large asset in our acro and pyramid events as a base and mid-level. You will also see senior Brittney McNiff (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) continue to hold down pyramid rounds as well as stepping into a base in our acro events. We also bring back sophomores Lauren Arroyo (West Covina, Calif./Mater Dei) and Sydney Hess (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), both assets as bases. We have several newcomers who have been difference makers to the program, Addison Womeldorph, Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro), Alexis Tosado (Sparks, Nev./Edward C. Reed) and Haley Shepard, all of which will be seen in a number of rounds of play."
 
Back

Returners: Zeina Ellemai, Abbie Hoffman (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc), Paige Zangara (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), Victoria DelleCurti (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Caitlyn McLaughlin (West Seneca, N.Y./Orchard Park), Nikki Pizzi (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall), Faith Wilson (Hagerstown, Md./Wilson Homeschool)

Newcomers: Maria Ondrejko (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bishop Canevin), Jema Reasoner (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville)

Coach Speak: "We return Zeina Ellemai, Abigail Hoffman and Paige Zangara (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), all of whom have grown tremendously and made huge gains in the weightroom that you can see on the mat. We have added Alexis Tosado (Sparks, Nev./Edward C. Reed) — also a base — who continues to impress us with her varying roles on the mat."
 
Top

Returners: Gina Pergolizzi (Seminole, Fla./Seminole), Regan Kanner (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area), Suzy Whiteman (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional), Brenna Schuler (Corapolis, Pa./Peters Township), Meghan Hughes (Lakewood, N.J./Donovan Catholic), Sydney Hulin (Doylestown, Ohio/Chippewa), Jenna DeCoursey (East Hampton, Conn./East Hampton), Kaitlyn Miller (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts)

Newcomers: Athena Martinez (Austin, Texas/Vista Ridge), Bethany Schirz (Reno, Nev./Edward C. Reed), Bri Blaszak (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence), Abigail Miller (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort), Morgan Applegate (Olathe, Kan./Olathe North)

Coach Speak: "We have returned standouts Meghan Hughes (Lakewood, N.J./Donovan Catholic), who specializes in tosses, Brenna Schuler (Corapolis, Pa./Peters Township), who is also a phenomenal tumbler, and Gina Pergolizzi (Seminole, Fla./Seminole), who has shown variety in a number of events. We've added Abigail Miller (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort), and returner redshirt Regan Kanner (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area). Both have grown hugely in the preseason, and will be standouts for us in numerous events as tops."
 
Tumbler

Returners: Danielle Samuel (Randallstown, Md./Western School of Technology and Environmental Science)

Newcomers: Michaelah Lanza (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North)

Coach Speak: "We have added to our roster several freshman tumblers. You will see Michealah Lanza, Morgan Applegate (Olathe, Kan./Olathe North), Athena Martinez (Austin, Texas/Vista Ridge), as well as Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro), compete in a number of tumbling rounds for us throughout the season. We have several other freshman who we expect to see stand out as well, who have recently made significant strides in their tumbling on our surface, gaining both consistency and confidence."