SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team got its 2023 season off to a strong start with an opening 256.600-253.225 win over Converse Saturday afternoon at the Weisiger Center.
 
The meet was a matchup of Top 10 ranked programs according to the NCATA with Converse at No. 8 and Belmont Abbey at No. 10.
 
It is the first time in program history that the Crusaders have defeated the Valkyries and also the highest score that The Abbey has earned against Converse.
 
Belmont Abbey is 1-0 while Converse is 0-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1–Compulsory
Converse edged out Belmont Abbey 36.80-36.25 in the opening event. The highest score of the event came in the pyramid heat with Belmont Abbey scoring a 9.65 in the Pyramid Heat.
 
Event 2 –Acro
Belmont Abbey captured the event with a score of 27.70-26.80 over Converse. The Crusaders earned higher scores in all three heats with the highest score coming in Heat 1 from Erena Chaples, Madeline McCauley, Kristin Fary, Blythe Terrell and Lauren Phillips.
 
Event 3 – Pyramid
The Crusaders took the third event 28.65-28.15 thanks to a strong 9.85/10 score in the third heat. As a result, Belmont Abbey led 92.600-91.750 after the first half of the meet.
 
Event 4 –Toss
Belmont Abbey was able to maintain its overall lead in the fourth event by scoring 8.75 or higher in all three heats. The highest score came in the 450 Salto Toss, scoring a 9.15/9.40 in the heat.
 
Event 5 – Tumbling
Both teams were nearly even in the Tumbling event with Converse holding a slim 52.975-52.300 advantage in the event. Amiya Shazier and Anna Davis were among the leaders in the event with the two teaming up in the Duo Pass for a score of 8.5/9.1. Both went on to score 9.0 or higher when competing individually. Davis earned a 9.025 in the aerial pass with Shazier scoring a 9.15 in the 6 Element Pass.
 
Event 6 – Team Event
The Crusaders secured the win with an 84.95 score from a 101.20 start value in the team event.
 
UP NEXT
The Crusaders host their first home meet of the season against Coker at 2 p.m. Friday at the Wheeler Center.