The Gannon University acrobatics & tumbling team is ranked No. 2 in the nation in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association's Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Golden Knights received 435 points and one first-place vote, while seven-time defending NCATA champion Baylor finished No. 1 in the poll with 494 points and 32 first-place votes. Baylor topped Gannon 273.685-268.965 in the 2022 NCATA National Championship meet on April 30 in Eugene, Ore.

The Golden Knights will have new leadership at the top this year after 2022 assistant coach Brandy Duren was promoted to head coach on Nov. 4. Previous head coach Jacquie Eshleman left her position at Gannon to start a program at Division I Iona University.
Gannon finished the 2022 season with a 10-2 record and won three national titles in individual events: Synchronized Pyramid, Synchronized Toss, and Open Toss.

Five athletes who competed in each of those three national championship events are set to be back: Brianna Arre (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend), Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro), Sammy Gouge (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek), Sydney Hess (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), and All-American selection Ali Price (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge). The Knights will also rely on fifth-year seniors Lauren Arroyo (West Covina, Calif./Mater Dei), and Suzy Whiteman (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional).

Gannon is set to open the season with a top-10 showdown. The Golden Knights will travel to Gaffney, S.C., for a meet on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Limestone, which is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll.

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National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association
2023 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Baylor (32)                                      494
2. Gannon (1)                                   435
3. Azusa Pacific                                 417
4. Quinnipiac                                     401
5. Oregon                                          378
6. Limestone                                      338
7. Fairmont State                               280
8. Converse                                       229
9. Hawaii Pacific                               179
10. Belmont Abbey                           156
11. King                                               132
12. Frostburg State                           111
13. Coker                                              94
14. Presbyterian                                 86
15. West Liberty                                  62
( ) – First-place votes