Spring Sports are underway and Acrobatics and Tumbling is back at it for their 2024-2025 season! Acrobatics & Tumbling prides itself on strength, tumbling, and stunts. This unique combination sets the stage for a high-energy, action-packed season.
When we asked Junior tumbler, Jessica Justa, how she would explain Acro & Tumbling to a recruit or someone unfamiliar with the sport, she stated that, “Acrobatics and tumbling is an emerging sport at the collegiate level. It’s a mix of gymnastics and cheerleading, but it’s also been proven you don’t need those background skills to be part of Acro. Since it’s the majority of a college sport, everyone starts from square one to learn the skills and events. When becoming part of an acrobatics and tumbling team, it’s amazing to know that we helped this sport emerge and that for me I was part of a team that was the first 50 teams to be created.”
Last year, the team faced some challenges, including missing out on competing in the Team Event category, which cost them many points. “One of my greatest challenges has been injuries and coaching changes. My sophomore and junior years, we struggled as a team due to the lack of leadership shown through the coaching staff. Coming off a record-breaking year my freshman season, it was hard to accept the fact that we lost for two straight seasons. Skills continued to decline, passion for the sport declined, and most of all the love for the sport I had done since I was 4 was slowly disappearing,” said senior and NCATA DIII competing finalist, Alessandra Gigliotti.
This year, the team is led by Brittany Archambeau (Adrian College Class of 2019) and Payton Young (Adrian College Class of 2023). They’re ready to score even bigger wins this season with a renewed focus on competing in the Team Event, better communication, and teamwork. Senior Acro & Tumbling member, Taryn Pitre, stated that, “Our team dynamic is one of the best I have ever experienced in a team. There is good communication amongst one another, especially during practice in between skills when we are trying to improve the next rep. We are a group of women who have each other’s backs on and off the mats, many of us are always together hanging out and have seen many ups and downs of each other’s lives. On top of all of that, we have two amazing coaches who will listen to whatever we need to talk about and are always super supportive and caring for us.”
Senior Night for Acrobatics and Tumbling will take place March 22, 2025 at 2 PM against Trine University! Best of luck to you ladies as you finish your season!