BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team got the 2025 season off to a good start thanks to a 229.145-218.030 over Converse Saturday night at the Wheeler Center.
 
Belmont Abbey took an early lead against Converse and never let it go as Ansley Dempsey won her first meet as the head coach of the Crusaders.
 
The meet was a rematch of the 2024 Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinals.
 
With Saturday's result, the Abbey is 1-0 overall and in Conference Carolinas. Saturday's meet also marked the season opener for Converse.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 — Compulsory
Belmont Abbey took a slight lead following the compulsory event thanks to a pair of scores above 9.4 in Toss (9.4) and Pyramid (9.7). Converse's best scored was a 9.5 in compulsory pyramid. Belmont Abbey led 33.55-32.85 after the vent.

Event 2 — Acro
The Crusaders extended their lead a bit more with a 24.35-23.4 edge in the event. Belmont Abbey's best score in 5-Element Acro, scoring a 9.55/10 with Molly Froman, Gracie Grady, Valentina Ordonez, Gabrielle Cox and Mackenzie Linegar competing in the heat. The Abbey also had an 8.2/10 in 7-Element Acro.

Event 3 — Pyramid
Belmont Abbey put together a strong score of 27.75 in the pyramid event thanks to scoring an 8.85 or higher in all three heats. The best score for the Crusaders came in the Open Pyramid (Heat 3) with a 9.8/10. Ordonez, Lauren Phillips, Alyssa Westbrook, Anna Audet, Kylie Brophy and Sarah Brady competed in the heat.
 
Additionally, the Crusaders scored a 9.1/10 in the Synchronized Pyramid (Heat 2). Phillips, Froman, Grady, Audet, Brady, Brophy and Cox competed along with Roy Gannon, Madison Quinlan, Mackenzie Linegar and Audra Kaiser.
 
The Abbey held a 85.65-82.55 lead at halftime.

Event 4 — Toss
Belmont Abbey edged out Converse in the event with a 25.2 point total oout of a possible 28.8 start value. The Open Toss was the strongest score for the Abbey with an 8.9/9.6. Froman, Westbrook, Phillips and Audet all competed in the heat along with Reese Johnson and Katilyn Blakeney. The Crusaders scored an 8.4/9.3 in the synchronized toss as well.

Event 5 — Tumbling
Converse got a bit closer thanks to a 47.55-46.475 lead over Belmont Abbey.
 
In the team passes, Belmont Abbey scored a 7.95/8.75 in the Trio Pass by Meagan Henry, Deanna Woolard and Erena Chaples. The Quad pass team of Tia Fluellen, Quinlan, Phillips and Payton Lanier accounted for a 7.65/8.0 for the Crusaders.
 
Madison Quinlan and Trinity Martinez each earned a score of 8.35 in the Aerial Pass and 6-Element Pass, respectively, for the Crusaders.. Quinlan's start value was at 8.6 compared to 9.65 for Martinez.

Event 6 — Team Event
Belmont Abbey closed the meet with a 71.82 compared to a 63.13 score for the Valkyries.
 
UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey heads down I-85 for a tri-meet against host Limestone and first-year program Newberry on Friday, February 14.
• The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Gaffney, South Carolina.