Athlete of the Week: Payton Washington, Baylor

Washington, a sophomore top and tumbler from Round Rock, Texas, competed in eight heats and team event for Baylor last week. In the win over nationally-ranked Oregon, Washington helped Baylor record five scores of 9.60 or higher, including a 9.95 in compulsory toss and a 9.75 in three other heats – compulsory acro, six-element acro, and 450 salto toss.
 
Specialist of the Week: Jordan Gruendler, Baylor

Gruendler, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, was a standout top in the pyramid event for Baylor last week. In the event, Baylor posted three scores of 9.70 or higher, including a 9.95 in the open pyramid and a 9.90 in the inversion pyramid. Gruendler is the only top in the country to compete the one-armed handstand skill in inversion pyramid and additionally the only top to compete the reverse planche (arch) in open pyramid.
 
Freshman of the Week: Leavy McDonald, Baylor

McDonald, a base from San Antonio, Texas, earned NCATA Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row. She competed in six heats and team event for Baylor, recording six scores of 9.70 or higher for the Bears. Her performance was highlighted by two scores of 9.95 – compulsory pyramid and open pyramid.
 

Athlete of the Week (Honorable Mention)
Abbie Baker, Saint Leo: Baker, a senior top and tumbler from Berlin, Md., competed in 13 heats and team event for Saint Leo last week. Her performance was highlighted by a 9.85 in open pyramid, a 9.75 in compulsory toss, and a 9.625 in open tumbling.
 
Haley Ellis, Oregon: Ellis, a senior top and tumbler from Rapid City, S.D., competed in seven heats and team event for Oregon last week. Her performance was highlighted by four scores of 9.50 or higher, including a 9.90 in the compulsory pyramid and a 9.85 in six-element tumbling.
 
Specialist of the Week (Honorable Mention)
Sydney Jundt, Kutztown: A junior base and tumbler from Rochester Hills, Mich., Jundt was this week’s MEC Specialist of the Week. Competing in all three heats of the Pyramid Event, she helped the Golden Bears take an early lead as they averaged a solid 9.35 for the three heats, highlighted by a 9.75 in the open pyramid.
 
Morgan Willingham, Oregon: Willingham, a freshman tumbler from Douglasville, Ga., helped Oregon record a 9.75 in the duo pass and a 9.775 in the open pass of the tumbling event.
 
Freshman of the Week (Honorable Mention)
Sienna Johnson, Duquesne: Johnson, a top and tumbler from Mount Airy, Md., competed in eight heats and team event for Duquesne last week. Her performance in Duquesne’s win over Missouri State was highlighted by a 9.70 in compulsory toss and a 9.30 in synchronized pyramid. She also recorded a 9.25 in the aerial tumbling pass.
 
Angelica Martin, Oregon: Martin, a base from Wilmington, Del., competed in seven heats and team event for Oregon last week. Her performance was highlighted by a 9.95 in compulsory toss and a 9.85 in five-element acro.