ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon acrobatics and tumbling team found an ideal way to close out its short, unusual home season on Monday.

Despite competing in a neighboring university's gym as their home court  for the second time in six days, the Golden Knights collected their sixth consecutive victory, 278.605-268.890 over Fairmont State, on Monday night at Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

During a normal year, coach Brandy Duren's team would compete on its home mats at the Highmark Events Center. However, the facility closed in December for year-long renovations. The two home meets were originally moved to Cathedral Prep's Hagerty Family Events Center.

Last week's home opener against Azusa Pacific had to be moved to Penn State Behrend's Junker Center because of a scheduling conflict, and Monday's meet was moved to Mercyhurst's facility.

That kind of disruption and uncertainty might have had a negative impact on some teams, but not the Golden Knights. Duren had her team ready to compete on Monday as the Knights recorded their season-high scores for the Team Event and overall meet.

 
Top-10 streak

Gannon opened the season as the No. 4 team in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association's Preseason poll.

After six victories, it's easy to see why Gannon had such a high ranking.

Since sweeping a tri-meet against Kutztown and East Stroudsburg to open the season, the Knights have defeated four consecutive Top-10 teams – No. 6 Frostburg State, No. 10 Belmont Abbey, No. 5 Azusa Pacific, and, now, No. 7 Fairmont State.

That trend of Top-10 opponents will continue in GU's final two meets of the season when they travel to face No. 1 Baylor on Saturday, and then visit No. 3 Quinnipiac on April 6.

The NCATA National Championships will take place April 25-28 at Fairmont State's gym.
 



Sweeping events

During its unbeaten season, Gannon has made a habit of sweeping wins in all six events. The Knights did it again on Monday.

They opened the first half by winning the Compulsory 37.75-37.20 and followed with wins in the Acro (29.40-27.60), and Pyramid (29.65-29.20).

The Golden Knights posted some impressive scores along the way, including a 9.90 in the Compulsory Toss heat, 9.95 in Acro Heat 1, and a 9.90 in the Inversion Pyramid and Open Pyramid.

GU also started the second half strongly, winning the Toss event, 29.30-28.35, thanks to a 9.85 in the 450 Salto and a 9.80 in the Synchronized Toss.

The Knights also turned in an outstanding effort in the Tumbling event, winning 56.725-53.950. Gannon's top scores came from Kat Rodriguez (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) in the Open Pass (9.775), Ty Upton (South Amboy, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) in the Aerial Pass (9.750), Ali Price (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) in the 6 Element (9.650), and Upton and Price in the Duo Pass (9.600).

That left only the meet-closing Team Event for Gannon to secure the win, and that's what the Knights did. They posted a 95.78 score, topping their previous high score this season by more than a point.

Gannon's overall score of 278.605 was more than 2 points higher than its previous season high of 276.235.

 
Special occasions

Gannon also used Monday's meet for three other purposes. The Knight welcomed back 16 former acro and tumbling graduates on Alumni Appreciation Night.

The Golden Knights also raised money for Make-A-Wish and recognized the Morgan's Message foundation that deals with mental health.
 

Gannon's lineup for Monday:
2 Ali Price (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge), junior
3 Charisma Felix (Las Vegas, Nev./College of So. Nevada High School West), junior
5 Ty Upton (South Amboy, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas), junior
6 Nicole Pavia (Oxford, Conn./Oxford High), junior
7 Kat Rodriguez (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall), senior
8 Julienne Templeman (Lodi, Calif./Jim Elliot Christian), sophomore
12 Peyton Oliver (Vallejo, Calif./Jesse M. Bethel), sophomore
13 Bethany Schirz (Reno, Nev./Edward C. Reed), graduate
14 Annie Colantonio (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin), senior
15 Michaelah Lanza (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), graduate
16 Ashley Fallgren (Beaverton, Ore./Hillsboro), graduate
17 Layna Bergeron (Johnston, R.I./La Salle Academy), sophomore
18 Tori Soper (Sheffield Lake, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy), sophomore
21 Courtney Solensky (Columbia, Conn./E.O. Smith), senior
22 Reagan McMahon (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic), junior
23 Alexandria DeAngelis (Audubon, N.J./Camden Catholic High School), freshman
24 Marissa Burge (Fairview, Pa./Fairview), sophomore
32 Lillie Fritz (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler), junior
34 Kathryn Rhine (Damascus, Ore./Clackamas), senior
35 Madison Rhine (Damascus, Ore./Clackamas), senior
37 Lauren Rupert (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore), junior
38 Montana Muller (Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua), senior
39 Megan Revell (Richland, Wash./Richland High), junior
42 Mikayla Kis (Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada/Silverthorn Collegiate Institute), sophomore
43 Ariana Fitzpatrick (Burlington, N.J./Northern Burlington County Regional H.S.), freshman
44 Alexis Tosado (Sparks, Nev./Edward C. Reed), graduate
45 Brianna Arre (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend), senior
47 Morgan Gilbert (Black River, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Central), graduate