PITTSBURGH – Point Park University announced Thursday the addition of women's Acrobatics & Tumbling as the institution's 21^st sport.
 
After recent additions of men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's wrestling, and women's flag football, Point Park is thrilled to increase its student-athlete opportunities to young women competing in gymnastics, cheerleading, dance and other strength-based sports.
 
"Point Park is proud to be at the forefront of supporting emerging sports for women," said Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, President of Point Park. "Acrobatics & Tumbling and our recently added flag football program are exciting additions to our highly successful athletics program."
 
Added to the NCAA Emerging Sport for Women program in August 2020, NCAA members from all three divisions voted to add Acrobatics & Tumbling as a championship sport at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January. The 93^rd NCAA Championship – in which student-athletes from every division will compete for a single title – is projected to debut in April 2027.
 
"We are excited to offer young women with even more athletics opportunities at Point Park by adding this new and trending NCAA championship sport," said Vice President of Athletics Scott Swain. "With the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling already being a Mountain East Conference championship sport, it will provide regional recruiting and competition opportunities, along with a superior student-athlete experience."
 
Acrobatics & Tumbling is the evolution of different forms of gymnastics and is a fast-paced, team-based sport in which athletes perform a series of synchronized skills in events such as acrobatics, pyramid, toss, tumbling and team routines.
 
Acrobatics & Tumbling is a spring sport featuring a 144-day playing season. Teams compete in six to 12 contests per year of head-to-head competitions consisting of two or three teams. Meets consist of six events with a total of 20 heats. Scores are based on pre-determined start values and are evaluated on the execution of skills performed. In any given heat, 1 to 24 athletes may be on the mat competing as individuals or groups.

"An extraordinary week for A&T! We are thrilled to welcome Point Park University to the NCATA and to the growing community of acrobatics & tumbling," said NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. "President Brussalis and Scott Swain have done a tremendous job stewarding Point Park into NCAA DII and Mountain East Conference membership, as well as augmenting athletic participation opportunities. We are grateful to be the next positive addition to their athletics department, and to increase opportunities for young women training in gymnastics and cheerleading to continue their path in Pittsburgh."
 
Point Park is the 54^th Acrobatics & Tumbling program nationwide, including the 27^th from NCAA Division II.
 
The Mountain East Conference sponsors Acrobatics & Tumbling as a championship sport, with seven members programs from the conference – including Fairmont State, Frostburg State, Glenville State, Shawnee State, West Liberty, West Virginia State and Wheeling. Kutztown competes as an affiliate member of the MEC in acrobatics & tumbling.