BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team finished with a season-high score as the Crusaders earned a 237.405-234.535 over West Liberty Saturday afternoon at the Wheeler Center.

It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the lone nonconference meet of the season for the Abbey.

With Saturday's result, Belmont Abbey improves to 5-2 overall while West Liberty is 2-4 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 — Compulsory
The Crusaders got off to a good start, scoring a 34.5 out of a possible 40 points to take an early lead. The two best scores came in compulsory pyramid and toss with scores of 9.55 and 9.35, respectively.

Event 2 — Acro
West Liberty took the lead after a 27.10-24.75 advantage over the Abbey. The Crusaders' best score came in 6 Element (Heat 2) scoring an 8.4/9.6.

Competing in Heat 2 was Alyssa Westbrook, Gabrielle Cox, Valentina Ordonez, Audra Kaiser, Madison Quinlan, Sarah Brady, Roy Gannon, Kylie Brophy and Deanna Woolard.

The Crusaders also had scores of 8.2/10 and 8.15/9.55 in Heats 3 and 1, respectively.

Event 3 — Pyramid
The Crusaders put together a strong performance in the event, scoring a 27.55 out of a possible 29.20 points. Belmont Abbey's best score came in the Open Pyramid, scoring a 9.7/10.

Mackenzie Linegar, Brady, Quinlan, Brophy, Cox and Payton Lanier all competed in that event for the Abbey. Additionally, Belmont Abbey also scored a 9.15/9.7 in the Inversion Pyramid. Cox, Linegar, Brophy, Gannon and Brady all competed in the heat along with Deanna Woolard, Erena Chaples, and Isabella Schrout.

Belmont Abbey trailed 89.30-86.80 to the Hilltoppers at halftime.

Event 4 — Toss
The Crusaders got slightly closer in the event by edging the Hilltoppers 24.9-24.5. The best score for the Abbey came in the Open Toss, scoring an 8.9/9.6.

Molly Froman competed in the event along with Westbrook, Cox, Anna Audet, Gannon and Katilyn Blakeney.

Belmont Abbey also scored an 8.65/9.3 in the 450 Salto Toss.

Event 5 — Tumbling
Belmont Abbey nearly erased the deficit in tumbling thanks to a 48.675-46.725 advantage.

In the team tumbling, Trinity Martinez and Tia Fluellen helped Belmont Abbey score an 8.15/9.55 in the Duo Pass. Additonally, the Crusaders scored a 7.55/8 thanks to Woolard, Chaples, Brady and Lanier.

In the individual events, Quinlan scored a strong 8.45/8.6 in the Aerial Pass, Woolard had an 8.825/9.5 while Fluellen finished with a 9.0/9.55.

The Crusaders trailed 160.525-160.375 entering the team event.

Event 6 — Team Event
Belmont Abbey was able to complete the comeback in the team event, scoring a 77.030/97.28 in the event. West Liberty finished with a 74.01/96.11.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders head on the road to face Emmanuel at 3 p.m. next Saturday in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
• It will be the final road meet of the regular season for the Abbey.