Following six meets to open the 2022 season last week, the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) today announced its week one awards, headlined by Baylor top and tumbler Emily Tobin as the Athlete of the Week. Her Baylor teammate Jordan Gruendler was named the NCATA Specialist of the Week, while Converse freshman Krissa Gaines was recognized as the Freshman of the Week.
Athlete of the Week: Emily Tobin, Baylor
Tobin, a junior top and tumbler from Templeton, Calif., earned NCATA Athlete of the Week honors after leading Baylor to a score of 277.930 against Mary-Hardin Baylor on Saturday. Tobin competed in 10 heats and team event for the Bears, taking part in seven heats that scored a 9.70 or higher. Tobin’s performance was highlighted by her performance as a top in compulsory toss (scored 9.95), synchronized pyramid (scored 9.90), acro five-element (scored 9.85) and inversion pyramid (scored 9.85). She also competed as a tumbler in the quad pass and team event.
Specialist of the Week: Jordan Gruendler, Baylor
Gruendler, a freshman top from San Antonio, Texas, excelled in the acro event for Baylor this week, helping the Bears to a score of 9.75 in the six-element acro and a 9.80 in the seven-element acro. Gruendler showed great hand-to-hand balance as a top in both acro heats. She executed a one-arm handstand in the six-element acro heat.
Freshman of the Week: Krissa Gaines, Converse
Gaines, a freshman base and tumbler from Charlotte, N.C., starred in her debut for Converse on Saturday. She competed in seven heats and team event for the Valkyries, helping the team record three scores of 9.70 or higher, including a 9.90 in compulsory pyramid, a 9.85 in inversion pyramid and a 9.70 in five-element acro. She also competed in three tumbling passing, recording a 9.15 out of 9.50 in the aerial pass.
Athlete of the Week – Honorable Mention
Alyssa Loo (Converse), a senior base from Wesley Chapel, Fla., competed in 10 heats and team event to help lead Converse to a season-opening win over Emmanuel. As a base, Loo helped Converse to seven scores of 9.65 or higher, including a meet-high 9.90 in compulsory pyramid and a 9.85 in inversion pyramid. She also serves as the main base in both six- and seven-element acro with the heats scoring 9.65 and 9.70, respectively.
Ali Price (Gannon), a sophomore top and tumbler from New Paris, Pa., helped Gannon to a win over No. 4 Quinnipiac by competing in nine heats and team event on Saturday. Price helped Gannon to four scores of 9.50 or higher, including a meet-high 9.80 in inversion pyramid and an event-high score of 9.70 in open toss. She also scored a 9.075 out of 9.40 in her six-element tumbling pass.
Specialist of the Week – Honorable Mention
Farrah Chernov (Quinnipiac), a sophomore tumbler from Manalapan, N.J., was a standout in the tumbler event for the Bobcats on Saturday. She competed in the duo pass that scored a meet-high 8.80 to leadoff the tumbling event and returned later to score a 9.60 in her individual tumbling pass, the aerial. The 9.60 was also a meet- and event-high score for the Bobcats.
Abbie Hoffman (Gannon), a senior base from Grand Blanc, Mich., gave the Knights a standout performance in the pyramid event on Saturday at Quinnipiac. In all three pyramid heats, Hoffman competed as a mid-level base and Gannon score a 9.75 or higher in each heat. The inversion pyramid score of 9.80 was a meet-high for the Knights.
Freshman of the Week – Honorable Mention
Aliyah Kaloostian (Baylor), a freshman tumbler from Phoenix, Ariz., competed in three heats and team event for the Bears over the weekend. Her performance was highlighted by a 9.825 in the open tumbling pass. Later in team event, she performed one standing and two running tumbling passes.
Sarah Williamson (Mary-Hardin Baylor), a freshman top from Richardson, Texas, competed in six heats and team event for Mary-Hardin Baylor over the weekend. She helped the Cru to a score of 9.85 in open pyramid and a score of 9.80 in compulsory pyramid.