WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) acrobatics & tumbling team narrowly dropped their season opener to the Mountain East Conference favorites West Liberty Hilltoppers (1-0) by a score of 235.450-234.050 at the Academic Sports & Recreation Complex.
 
“I am extremely proud of this team and their effort tonight,” said WVWC assistant Coach Taylor Broadwater. “We are looking forward to what this season has in store for us and what we will accomplish together.”
 
How It Happened
In the compulsory event, the acro heat team started the night with a score of 8.60. The pyramid heat team kept things rolling and recorded a score of 9.10 out of a possible 10 points. The ‘Toppers edged Wesleyan 34.25-31.20 and took the first event of the evening. The six-element acro event team of Tiara Stokes, Joniah Howell, Kayla Gandy and caller Caitlin Josef scored a 9.40. The home team won the acro event 27.60-25.75.
 
The Lady Bobcats responded and won the pyramid event 27.65-23.90. The synchronized pyramid team of Gandy, Stokes, Talia Cooper, Sydney McKinnon, Abigail Bowe, Emily Dengel, Megan Miles, Kayla Wade and caller Kelsey Allen turned in a score of 9.10. The open pyramid squad followed that up with a score of 9.70. At the intermission, West Liberty held an 85.75-84.60 lead.
 
The Lady ‘Cats started the second half by making program history when the 450 salto team of Miles, Wade, Stokes, McKinnon, Alejandra Ditchen and caller Caitlin Josef performed the first back double routine at Wesleyan. Their performance earned a score of 8.95 points out of a possible 9.90 points. The synchronized toss team scored an 8.30 and the open toss team recorded a score of 8.40. After four events, the Lady Bobcats led the Hilltoppers 110.25-110.20.
 
Gandy and Ditchen kicked off the tumbling event in the duo pass and scored a 7.7. In her first collegiate acrobatics & tumbling meet, Gandy recorded a 9.175 in the aerial pass event. Ditchen concluded the tumbling events by posting an 8.6 in the open pass. With one event remaining, West Liberty led Wesleyan by less than one point.
 
The Lady Bobcats completed their team event routine first and scored a 76.85. West Liberty followed and scored a 77.85. The Hilltoppers survived and won the meet by a final tally of 235.450-234.050.
 
Up Next
Wesleyan will be back on the road for a meet at Glenville State next Sunday (Feb. 27) at 2 p.m. inside the Waco Center.