BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey acrobatics and tumbling returned to the Wheeler Center for its second home meet of the season against Fairmont State Saturday evening.
 
The meet was close throughout but Fairmont State edged Belmont Abbey 260.515-259.145 with the team event being the deciding score.
 
Saturday's meet marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs in a matchup of preseason Top 10 programs according to the NCATA. Belmont Abbey entered the season at No. 10 while Fairmont State was No. 7.
 
Fairmont State moves to 4-0 on the season while the Crusaders are 3-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 – Compulsory
The first event would be an indicator of how close the meet would be. Fairmont State would take a narrow 36.85-36.65 lead after the first four heats. Both the Crusaders and Falcons were led by scores of 9.75 in the Pyramid Heat and Toss Heat, respectively.
 
Event 2 – Acro
The Falcons were able to extend their lead in the second event with all three scores finishing at 8.9 or higher. The best event for Belmont Abbey came in Heat 3 with the team earning a 9.25 from a 9.9 start value. Isabella Schrout, Gracie Grady, Bri Camp, Lauren Pipes and Emily Wueste all contributed for that top score.
 
Event 3 – Pyramid
The Crusaders were able to make up some ground before halftime and finished with all three scores above a 9.35. The best score came in Pyramid Heat 3 with a 9.7. Belmont Abbey trailed 91.85-91.15 at halftime.
 
Event 4 – Toss
The toss event was nearly dead even as the Crusaders and Falcons finished within 0.1 points of each other after the event. The best score for Belmont Abbey came in the 450 Salto Toss with the Crusaders earning a 9.1/9.4 with Amiya Shazier, Deanna Woolard, Maddie McCauley, Anna Audet, Sarab Brady and Erena Chaples participating.
 
Event 5 – Tumbling
Belmont Abbey finished the event with a 51.225-50.175 which was enough to take the lead going into the team event. Anna Davis scored a 9.05/9.75 in the aerial pass and Amiya Shazier earned a 9.2/9.6 in the Open Pass to lead the way for The Abbey. Additionally, she teamed up with Kaity Highfill for an 8.35/8.95 in the Duo Pass.
 
Event 6 – Team Event
The Crusaders closed the meet earning a 90.17 in the team event. It is the third straight meet that Belmont Abbey has earned a score of 90 points or higher. Fairmont State closed with a 91.79 and that proved enough to earn the win.
 
UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey resumes Conference Carolinas action with a tri-meet at King as the Crusaders will face the Tornado and Emmanuel Lions Mar. 18 in Bristol, Tennessee.
• The Crusaders will then return home for a tri-meet with Mars Hill and Chowan on March 25.