WACO, Texas -- On Wednesday night on the eve of the 2021 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships at the Ferrell Center in Waco, the NCATA announced its 2021 major awards and All-America Team via a social media reveal on the NCATA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year – Emily Tobin, Baylor University
Tobin, a sophomore top and tumbler from Templeton, Calif., competed in at least 10 heats in each of Baylor’s meets this season as the Bears went 4-1 on the year and earned the No. 2 seed in the NCATA National Tournament. In all, Tobin competed in 14 different heats and all six events during the 2021 season. Tobin helped Baylor average a 9.80 or higher in four different heats this season, including a 9.96 in the seven-element acro, a 9.93 in both the five-element acro and inversion pyramid, and a 9.88 in the compulsory toss. She also helped the Bears record five perfect scores this season. Tobin was a two-time NCATA Specialist of the Week for her performance in the acro event for Baylor.
Specialist of the Year – Addie Lacewell, University of Oregon
Lacewell, a senior base from Naperville, Ill., earned Specialist of the Year honors after her performance in the acro event this season for the University of Oregon. Lacewell competed in the five-element and seven-element acro heats for Oregon this season, helping the Ducks to a score of 9.75 or higher each time. In the five-element acro, Lacewell helped Oregon record a perfect-10.0 in the team’s home win over Baylor. The heat also scored a 9.90 on the road against Baylor, a 9.85 vs. Arizona Christian, and a 9.80 vs. Azusa Pacific. In seven-element acro, the heat scored a 9.95 twice against Baylor and Azusa Pacific. Lacewell was named NCATA Athlete of the Week on March 11, and was Specialist of the Week on April 1.
Freshman of the Year – Riley Chimwala, Baylor University
Chimwala, a three-time NCATA Freshman of the Week, competed in 10 heats and team event for Baylor this season. The base from Plano, Texas, helped Baylor to five perfect-scores, with two in five-element acro, two in seven-element acro, and one in compulsory toss. Chimwala helped Baylor average a 9.90 or higher in five different heats this season, including a 9.96 in seven-element acro, a 9.95 in open pyramid, a 9.9375 in five-element acro, and a 9.925 in inversion pyramid. Chimwala and Baylor scored 9.95 four times in the open pyramid this season.
Louise Goodrum Academic Award – Maddie McNamee, Baylor University
The Louise Goodrum Academic Award is given annually to recognize the true meaning of student-athlete. Modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 award, which honors the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard in her sport. In the NCATA, the award is presented to the junior or senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average whose team earned a berth participating in the NCATA national championship tournament.
The 2021 recipient of the Louise Goodrum Academic Award is Maddie McNamee from Baylor University. McNamee, a junior top from Nixa, Mo., has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average at BU. McNamee is majoring in Professional Writing and Rhetoric at Baylor University, with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Coach of the Year – IN HONOR OF COLLEEN KAUSRUD
This year, the NCATA would like to dedicate the 2021 NCATA National Championship tournament to the memory of Colleen Kausrud. This dedication includes presenting the 2021 NCATA Coach of the Year Award to Colleen’s family during Thursday’s semifinal action at the Ferrell Center in Waco. Colleen passed away in August 2020.
Kausrud was one of the four original coaches in collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling, pioneering a new sport for women. She led the Azusa Pacific University Acrobatics & Tumbling program since its inception in 2010, in addition to other coaching stints in cheerleading and fitness throughout her career.
During the development of Acrobatics & Tumbling, Kausrud supported policy and sport administration that would result in fair, safe competition for all participants. At Azusa Pacific, she created a team culture centered on servant leadership that empowered her student-athletes to find success on the mat, in the classroom, and in their lives after college.
Her infectious smile and fun-loving nature were ever present in her work and in her family. As a wife, coach, mom, Nana, and friend, Kausrud could be counted on for love, guidance, and laughter. While always inspiring those around her to achieve high standards, she was beloved for the joyful way she approached her life.
Colleen Kausrud’s impact on the Acrobatics & Tumbling community will live on through the coaches and the student-athletes she mentored.
Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award – Jenna DeCoursey, Gannon University
In honor of Colleen, the NCATA has added The Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award to the regular season annual awards presented at the NCATA National Championships.
Throughout her career, Colleen exemplified servant leadership in her work with the NCATA and at Azusa Pacific. A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong.
The Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award will be awarded to a senior student-athlete who exemplifies servant leadership throughout her career by:
• Being considered a selfless leader among teammates and coaches
• Demonstrating leadership in her campus or local community
• And contributing positively to the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling through advocacy, education or training at the youth level
The winner of the 2021 Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award is Jenna DeCoursey from Gannon University.
DeCoursey is a senior from East Hampton, Conn. majoring in Sport and Exercise Science.
As a student-athlete at Gannon, she has led her team in service days in the Erie Community, helping organize her teams service at events supporting Linked by Pink breast cancer awareness, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA, and a citywide street clean-up.
Her team has also forged a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, raising over $10,000 during the last four years. DeCoursey organized t-shirt sales, initiated sponsorship opportunities with local businesses, and assembled baskets to be raffled at a home Acrobatics & Tumbling event.
DeCoursey’s experiences as a specialty area counselor for YMCA summer camps and as a participant in Seeds of Hope mission trips have informed the way she leads and serves her team at Gannon.
As DeCoursey graduates, she aspires to continue to give back in support of the coaches and alumni of Gannon, to the community in Erie who has supported the Acrobatics & Tumbling program, and to make proud the women who created Acrobatics & Tumbling.
2021 NCATA All-America Team
In addition to the announcement of the 2021 major awards, the NCATA also announced is All-American team on Wednesday night.
Five honorees are repeat selections from the 2019 season, including Azusa Pacific’s Hannah Alonzo and Beth Magee, Oregon’s Payton Coon and Addie Lacewell, and King’s Catherine Reynolds.
APU, Baylor and Oregon each had three selections on the All-American team. Jacie Van de Zilver joined Alonzo and Magee on the All-America team from Azusa Pacific, while Alyssa Hew joined Coon and Lacewell as the third selection from the University of Oregon. Baylor was represented by Riley Chimwala (also Freshman of the Year), Kam Kitchens and Emily Tobin (also Most Outstanding Athlete).
Two athletes represented Hawai’i Pacific in Isabella Delacruz and Avery Tyson, while Converse’s Tanjae Lugo, Gannon’s Nikki Pizzi, Limestone’s Jessica Rubbo and Fairmont State’s Alexis Smith were named to the All-America Team for the first time in their careers.
2021 NCATA All-America Team
Hannah Alonzo, Azusa Pacific (Base – Jr. – San Antonio, Texas)
Riley Chimwala, Baylor (Base – Fr. – Plano, Texas)
Payton Coon, Oregon (Top/Base/Tumbler – R-Sr. – Portland, Ore.)
Isabella Delacruz, Hawai’i Pacific (Base/Tumbler – Fr. – Wantagh, N.Y.)
Alyssa Hew, Oregon (Top/Base/Tumbler – Jr. – Markham, Ontario)
Kam Kitchens, Baylor (Top/Tumbler – So. – Kennesaw, Ga.)
Addie Lacewell, Oregon (Base – Sr. – Naperville, Ill.)
Tanjae Lugo, Converse (Top/Tumbler – Jr. – Elgin, Ill.)
Beth Magee, Azusa Pacific (Top – Sr. – Katy, Texas)
Nikki Pizzi, Gannon (Base/Tumbler – R-Sr. – Wallingford, Conn.)
Catherine Reynolds, King (Top/Base/Tumbler – Jr. – Fairfax, Va.)
Jessica Rubbo, Limestone (Base – Jr. – Lexington, S.C.)
Alexis Smith, Fairmont State (Top/Base/Tumbler – Sr. – Parkersburg, W.Va.)
Emily Tobin, Baylor (Top/Tumbler – So. – Templeton, Calif.)
Avery Tyson, Hawai’i Pacific (Top/Tumbler – So. – Georgetown, Texas)
Jacie Van de Zilver, Azusa Pacific (Top – Jr. – Jackson, N.J.)