Release Written with Quotes & Information Courtesy of Glenville State Athletics
GLENVILLE, W. Va. – Glenville State College President Peter B. Barr, Athletics Director Janet K. Bailey and National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) President Dr. Renee Baumgartner have announced the addition of Acrobatics & Tumbling as the College’s 13th varsity sport. In addition, Amber King has been named the program’s first head coach, announced by Glenville State Athletic Director Janet Bailey on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
“Acrobatics and tumbling is an increasingly relevant sport opportunity for female student-athletes,” commented USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny. “As schools look for enhancements to their athletic offerings, this discipline of gymnastics can be a perfect fit for a variety of reasons.”
Glenville State, a public four-year institution in Glenville, West Virginia, enrolls over 1,800 students and is a member of the Mountain East Conference, an NCAA Division II-affiliated conference with 12 member institutions.
“We welcome Glenville State College to the NCATA,” commented Dr. Baumgartner. “We appreciate Glenville’s vision and commitment to meeting the interests and abilities and growing opportunities for females at the collegiate level.”
Intending to begin competition in 2016, Glenville State becomes the 12th member of the NCATA, further bolstering the presence of the sport in the Mountain State as the third member from the state of West Virginia, joining Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillipi, and Fairmont State University in Fairmont.
“Amber King is committed to developing a championship program helping young ladies achieve their very best on the competition floor, in the classroom, and in life,” said Athletic Director Janet Bailey.
“I am excited to introduce Acrobatics and Tumbling to Pioneer sports. This emerging sport will increase athletic opportunities for women at Glenville State. Coach King has an established reputation in the sport. The Glenville State community can expect that Acrobatics and Tumbling will continue the Pioneer tradition of excelling performance in the gymnasium and the classroom,” said Glenville State President Dr. Peter Barr.
King, a native of Piney Flats, Tenn., is ready to pioneer GSC’s first foray into A&T. King comments, “I am excited to bring this sport to the Glenville State campus and community. I have been extremely impressed with President Barr, Athletic Director Janet Bailey, and the entire community, as they embrace this opportunity for female student-athletes. I’m honored to be a part of this amazing sport and I look forward to also serving this community, as we teach the skill set of acrobatics and tumbling to the youth of Gilmer County.”
In addition, Glenville State College will bolster the Mid-Atlantic region for the NCATA, joining Gannon University in Erie, Pa. and King University in Bristol, Tenn. The Pioneers will also join NCATA members Baylor University, Concordia University (Wisc.), Hawai’i Pacific University, the University of Oregon and Quinnipiac University
“The NCATA is thrilled by Glenville’s announcement,” commented NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. “Acrobatics & Tumbling continues to grow that the varsity collegiate level and provide opportunities for the millions of young women across the country who train in the skill sets.”
The NCATA is the governing body of the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling, organized as a 501c3 non-profit entity. Varsity collegiate competition began in the Spring of 2011 and Acrobatics & Tumbling was adopted as a discipline of USA Gymnastics in 2013. NCATA member institutions include all levels of the NCAA – Division I, II, and III.
Member institutions have team roster sizes of 30-45 athletes. . The recruiting base for Acrobatics and Tumbling is broad pulling from artistic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, Team Acro & Tumbling youth sport, and high-level competitive cheer teams. Acrobatics & Tumbling competes in the spring each year, beginning February 1 and with the National Championship tournament held in late April. Each season a team typically competes in 6-8 meets.
Teams compete in meets with six events including – compulsories, acro, pyramid, toss, tumbling and team event. Typical meets include 2-3 teams consisting of 28 member game day rosters. Meets last roughly two hours and have six different events – total of 20 heats – all taking place on a mat that is set on center court. Depending on the heat, there can be anywhere from one to 24 athletes on the floor for a particular team. The sport is judged based on execution of the skills that are competed, much like gymnastics or diving.
Prior to developing Acrobatics and Tumbling at King University, King elevated the King University cheer program to a competitive level. The newly competitive 2012 team finished 5th at Cheersport Nationals in Atlanta, GA, and 3rd at Canam Nationals in Myrtle Beach, SC. Prior to returning to her alma mater, King served as head cheer coach at Newberry College (SC). During 2011-2012 season, she choreographed competition routines for CANAM and CCA National events.
She was named to the Top-25 Coaches in America by the CCA, after a trio of spectacular finishes in competition. King led her team to a First Runner-up honor at the CANAM Nationals, a National Championship in the All-Girl CCA Nationals, and was crowned Grand Champion as the best overall college team at the 2012 CCA Nationals.
In 2008, King earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management with a Minor in Coaching from King University. For three years as an undergraduate, King was a teaching instructor for the Universal Cheerleaders Association traveling the Mid-South region. In 2009, Coach King developed the tumble/cheer ministry through the Celebration Church Dance Ministry in Blountville, TN. She taught weekly tumbling classes to children 5-18 years old and choreographed routines for them.
In 2012, King completed her Master’s Degree in Coaching Education from nearby Ohio University. Amber resides in Glenville, WV with her husband, Greg, and 5 year old son Jack. To learn more about Acrobatics and Tumbling, go to thencata.org or contact Coach Amber King at [email protected].
The 2015 season will kick off on Feb. 4 as four-time NCATA National Champion Oregon will take on Asuza Pacific University in a rematch of last year’s NCATA Final.