Baylor University, winners of eight-consecutive National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships, has been voted the preseason favorite in the association’s 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll.
Baylor received 36 of 42 first-place votes and tallied 623 points during preseason balloting. The Bears are coming off an 11-0 campaign that ended with a 278.855-268.555 victory over the University of Oregon in the 2023 National Championship meet.
The University of Oregon will begin the season at No. 2 in the nation after receiving three first-place votes and 564 points, while Quinnipiac was voted third during preseason balloting with 556 points and the three remaining first-place votes. Gannon (496) and Azusa Pacific (460) rounded out the top five.
After qualifying for its first NCATA National Tournament in school history in 2023, Frostburg State (371) checked-in at No. 6 in the preseason poll, followed by Fairmont State and Limestone in a tie for seventh place (363). Hawai’i Pacific (263) and Belmont Abbey (202) rounded out the top 10.
The final five teams in the rankings featured the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (177) at No. 11, followed by Coker (145), Augustana (107), Converse (91) and first-year program Iona (63).
The 2024 NCATA regular season gets underway on Saturday, Feb. 3 with two meets. Top-ranked Baylor travels to Texas Lutheran at 3 p.m. (CT), while Glenville State hosts West Liberty in Mountain East Conference action beginning at 3 p.m. (ET). Meets will continue on Monday with Lander traveling to No. 7 Limestone for a Conference Carolinas matchup at 7 p.m. (ET).
National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association
2024 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Baylor University (36) – 623
2. University of Oregon (3) – 564
3. Quinnipiac University (3) – 556
4. Gannon University – 496
5. Azusa Pacific University – 460
6. Frostburg State University – 371
T7. Fairmont State University – 363
T7. Limestone University – 363
9. Hawai’i Pacific University – 263
10. Belmont Abbey College – 202
11. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – 177
12. Coker University – 145
13. Augustana University – 107
14. Converse University – 91
15. Iona University – 63
( ) – First-place votes