Releases courtesy TheNCATA.org

Felician University to Add Acrobatics & Tumbling in 2023-24

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Felician University will add acrobatics & tumbling to its varsity intercollegiate sports program during the 2023-24 academic year, Felician Interim Director of Athletics Andrew Toriello announced today.

Acrobatics & tumbling, an NCAA Emerging Sport for women, competes during the spring athletic season. It will become Felician’s 17th varsity sport, including its 11th women’s offering. It is governed nationally by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association.

“We are excited to continue to enhance our department by adding the emerging sport of acrobatics & tumbling,” Toriello said. “At the same time, we’re looking forward to working with the NCATA to grow the sport and expand opportunities nationwide.”

Acrobatics & tumbling is the evolution of different forms of gymnastics. The sport involves tumbling, tosses, acrobatic lifts, and pyramids. Young women are primarily recruited from the various disciplines of gymnastics and cheerleading to participate in acrobatics & tumbling, as well as multi-sport athletes, divers, and weightlifters. The Golden Falcons will become the 44th collegiate program nationwide to add acrobatics & tumbling, including the 30th member of NCAA Division II.

“We are thrilled to welcome Felician University to the NCATA community and to continue program growth within the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference,” said NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. “Acrobatics & tumbling continues to gain momentum as we move forward in the process of becoming an NCAA championship sport. The continued expansion in the northeast will provide new opportunities for young women training in gymnastics and cheerleading to compete at the collegiate level as well as increased regional matchups for current members.”

The first NCATA National Championships took place in 2011 at the University of Oregon. Championships are held annually in April on an NCATA member campus. The sport is governed as a team sport at the youth level by USA Gymnastics.


Holy Family University Adds Acrobatics & Tumbling, Becomes 45th NCATA Program

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Holy Family University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the addition of acrobatics & tumbling and men’s lacrosse as its 16th and 17th varsity programs, effective for the 2023-24 academic year.

“I join our students in their excitement over the addition to our athletics programs of acrobatics & tumbling and men’s lacrosse,” said Anne Prisco, Ph.D., president of Holy Family University. “We are pleased to provide new opportunities for student-athletes to excel in their sports and the classroom. We know that student-athletes have a higher burden when it comes to balancing sports and schoolwork, so as we grow programs, we also grow resources to ensure we are able to support them in everything from academic support to mental health counseling. Our view is that our student-athletes are students first, so we strive to ensure a holistic and balanced experience. I look forward to cheering these new student-athletes on to victory next academic year.”

Holy Family Athletics continues its growth as the University has now revealed the addition of four new varsity programs over the past four months, with recent announcements that women’s bowling and Esports will begin competition in the 2022-23 academic year.

“With the addition of four new sports by the 2023-24 academic year, Holy Family University Athletics is expanding our athletics programming to develop even more student-athletes that will learn discipline, preparation, strategic thinking, and teamwork in their respective sports with their peers,” said Holy Family University Director of Athletics Tim Hamill. “We are looking forward to welcoming our first acrobatics & tumbling and men’s lacrosse teams to our campus.”

Holy Family pushed the number of NCATA programs to 45 nationwide, including 31 that compete at the NCAA Division II level.

During the 2022 season, National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) programs competed on 32 campuses nationwide, with 13 programs now recruiting with plans to compete by the 2024-25 season at the latest.

“We are excited to welcome Holy Family University to the NCATA community and to continue program growth within the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC),” said NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. “Adding our first program in the Philadelphia compliments recent growth in and around Baltimore and New York City. Expansion in the northeast not only provides new opportunities for young women training in gymnastics and cheerleading to compete at the collegiate level, it also enhances the regional match-ups for our current members.”

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Acrobatics & Tumbling, as we experience another period of expansion and continue forward to our goal of reaching NCAA championship sport status.”

Acrobatics & tumbling was adopted as an NCAA emerging sport in all three divisions effective August 1, 2020, meaning when 40 programs meet NCAA sport sponsorship thresholds for participants (18) and competitions (6), acrobatics & tumbling will be eligible to begin the legislative process for NCAA championship status.

Earlier this year NCATA announced the addition of its 40th member, and Holy Family will proudly become its 45th, including the 31st in Division II.

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