EUGENE, Ore. – The sixth-ranked Gannon Acrobatics & Tumbling team continued its historic start to the 2022 season on Saturday evening with a convincing 275.690-271.270 win over third-ranked Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena.
"I could not be more proud of this team," said Gannon Acrobatics & Tumbling head coach
Jacquie Eshleman. "The energy and passion could be felt off the mat. They did exactly what was asked of them and maintained their focus and energy while using their warm up wisely. I am beyond proud of them, and excited to continue this journey with this incredible group of young women.
"Tonight's win was a monumental win, and historic for our program," Eshleman added.
The Knights won five of the six events on Saturday evening and outscored the Ducks in 13 of the 19 heats during the meet. Gannon scored a 9.50 or higher in 15 of the 19 heats during the meet.
Gannon is now 5-1 on the season and owns victories over a pair of DI opponents this season (Quinnipiac, Oregon). The Knights have also defeated four teams that are ranked in the top 10 of the NCATA national rankings.
Saturday's win was Gannon's first-ever against Oregon, who came into the meet with a 4-0 series lead over the Knights.
Compulsory Event
Gannon began the meet with a 38.50-38.10 win over the Ducks in the compulsory event to grab an early lead. Gannon scored a 9.85 in the compulsory pyramid and a 9.90 in the compulsory toss to headline the event. Gannon and Oregon tied in the compulsory acro heat with matching scores of 9.50, while the Knights outscored the Ducks in the compulsory tumbling heat.
Acro Event
Gannon won convincingly in the acro event (29.20-27.45) by outscoring Oregon in each of the three heats. Gannon posted a 9.90 in the seven-element acro and began the event with a 9.75 in the five-element heat.
Pyramid Event
The Knights wrapped up the first half with perhaps its best execution of the meet during the pyramid event, receiving just 0.45 in deductions during the event (29.55 out of 30.0). Gannon scored a meet-high 9.95 in the inversion pyramid, a 9.85 in the open pyramid and a 9.75 in the synchronized pyramid. Gannon topped Oregon 29.55-29.30 in the pyramid event and led 97.25-94.85 at the half.
Toss Event
Gannon was also victorious in the toss event and added over a point to its lead with a final event score of 28.80-27.50. GU scored a 9.75 in the open toss and added a 9.70 in the 450 salto toss to headline the event. The Knights outscored the Ducks in each of the three heats during the toss event.
Tumbling Event
Oregon outscored Gannon by a narrow margin in the tumbling event (56.450-56.050) for its first event victory of the meet. Despite the narrow defeat in the event, Gannon did turn in an impressive performance, scoring a 9.5 or higher in four of the six heats. The Gannon sophomore duo of
Ali Price (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) and
Caitlyn Crawford (Reston, Va./South Lakes) began the event on a strong note by scoring a 9.70 out of 9.90 in the duo pass. The score was a season-best. In the individual passes, junior
Michaelah Lanza (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) scored a 9.575 in the aerial pass and Price returned in the six-element pass to scored 9.775. Crawford capped the event with a 9.80 out of a possible 9.90 in the open tumbling pass.
Team Event
Gannon put the Ducks away with a 93.59-92.47 victory in team event.
Up Next
Gannon will now prepare for another nationally-ranked foe when 11
th-ranked West Liberty visits the Highmark Events Center on Wednesday, March 16. The meet is set for a 7 p.m. start and is Gannon's annual Make-a-Wish Meet.
Gannon Competition Roster (3/5/22 at Oregon)
2
Ali Price (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge)
3
Charisma Felix (Las Vegas, Nev./College of So. Nevada High School West)
4
Suzy Whiteman (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional)
6
Nicole Pavia (Oxford, Conn./Oxford High)
7
Kat Rodriguez (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall)
9
Athena Martinez (Austin, Texas/Vista Ridge)
11
Bri Blaszak (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence)
13
Bethany Schirz (Reno, Nev./Edward C. Reed)
14
Annie Colantonio (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin)
15
Michaelah Lanza (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North)
16
Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro)
19
Maddie Olsen (Phoenix, Ariz./Chandler Prep)
23
Sydney Hess (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan)
25
Emma Winters (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower High)
26
Addy Womeldorph (Parker, Texas/Allen)
27
Jema Reasoner (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville)
29
Abbie Hoffman (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc)
37
Lauren Rupert (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore)
38
Montana Muller (Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua)
39
Megan Revell (Richland, Wash./Richland High)
41
Caitlyn Crawford (Reston, Va./South Lakes)
42
Caitlyn McLaughlin (West Seneca, N.Y./Orchard Park)
43
Maria Ondrejko (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bishop Canevin)
44
Alexis Tosado (Sparks, Nev./Edward C. Reed)
46
Brianna Arre (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend)
47
Morgan Gilbert (Black River, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Central)
50
Sammy Gouge (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek)
51
Lauren Arroyo (West Covina, Calif./Mater Dei)
