BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team finished with a program-best team event score and that proved to be the difference to earn a pair of wins at the King tri-meet Saturday evening.
 
The Crusaders defeated host King 266.870-264.665 as well as Emmanuel 266.870-244.770.
 
The results help The Abbey remain unbeaten in Conference Carolinas competition at 4-0 in the league and 5-1 overall. King is 2-3 overall, 1-2 in the conference while Emmanuel is 1-4 both overall and in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 –Compulsory
The Crusaders got off to a strong start and led the three teams with a score of 36.5. The two best scores came in the Pyramid and Toss Heats, finishing with scores of 9.9 and 9.7, respectively. The 9.9 is a season-high for The Abbey after earning 9.8 two other times this season.
 
Event 2 –Acro
The Tornado had the best score of the three teams in the event with a 27.20 compared to Emmanuel's 26.05 and 24.75 by Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders' best score came in Heat 3 with the team scoring a 9.6/9.9 with Isabella Schrout, Gracie Grady, Bri Camp, Lauren Pipes and Emily Wueste competing.
 
Event 3 –Pyramid
All three teams finished with strong scores in the event with Belmont Abbey taking the event 29.15-28.70 (King)- 28.20 (Emmanuel). Belmont Abbey had its second-highest team score for the meet with a 9.85/10 in Heat 3. Additionally, the team earned a 9.75/9.9 in Heat 1. At halftime, the Tornado led 91.10-90.40 over Belmont Abbey and 91.10-87.90 over the Lions.
 
Event 4 –Toss
The Crusaders were able to take the lead back in the fourth event thanks to a top score of 27.30. The event was highlighted with scores of 9.25/9.4 in Heat 1 and 9.2/9.3 in Heat 3.
 
Event 5–Tumbling
Belmont Abbey put together a strong effort in tumbling with just a 1.6 point difference in start value and total team score. Anna Davis earned a 9.0 in the Aerial Pass while Amiya Shazier earned a 9.475/9.6 in the Open Pass. From the team passes, Shazier and Highfill led the way with an 8.6/8.95 in the Duo Pass. King edged out Belmont Abbey in the team event with a 53.175 total.
 
Event 6–Team Event
The Crusaders saved the best for last by earning a program-best 96.62 from a 101.22 start value in the team event. It passed the 96.59 mark the team earned in the Lander tri-meet last season where the team scored above 270 points for the first time in program history.
 
UP NEXT
Belmont Abbey returns home for Senior Day with a tri-meet against Mars Hill and Chowan beginning next Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.