BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team got its 2026 campaign underway with a close battle against King Friday evening at the Wheeler Center.

The Crusaders and Tornado were close throughout but King earned the win in the final event to earn a 228.690-226.725 win over the Abbey.

Friday's meet marked the season and Conference Carolinas opener for both teams. Belmont Abbey is 0-1 overall, 0-1 in the league while King is 1-0, 1-0.

The meet also marked the debut of head coach Haley Allen.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 — Compulsory
The meet began with King taking a slight 32.75-31.80 lead over Belmont Abbey. The two strongest heats for the Crusaders came in the Pyramid and Toss heats with scores of 9.5/10 and 9.4/10, respectively.

Event 2 — Acro
Belmont Abbey took its first lead of the meet after the Acro event, outscoring the Tornado 24.20-23.15. The Crusaders' best score came in the 5 Element Heat, scoring an 8.55/9.95.

Competing in that heat was Mackenzie Linegar, Sarah Brady, Grace Carroll, Brielle Ehasz and Katilyn Blakeney. Belmont Abbey also earned scores of 7.35/9.35 in Heat 2 and 8.3/9.85 in Heat 3.

Event 3 — Pyramid
King took an 83.10-78.6 lead into halftime after outscoring Belmont Abbey 27.25-22.60 in the event.

Belmont Abbey's best score came in the Synchronized Pyramid, scoring an 8.55/9.50. The Crusaders also scored an 8.1/10 in the Open Pyramid.

Event 4 — Toss
The Crusaders did get slightly closer after the Toss Event by edging the Tornado, 25.05-24.90.

Belmont Abbey had scores of 8.1 or higher in all three heats, highlighted by an 8.6/9.4 in Open Toss. Isabella Schrout, Mackenzie Linegar, Blakeney, Carroll, Brianna Buchear and Brady all participated in the heat for the Crusaders.

Event 5 — Tumbling
The Crusaders made up a lot of ground in the event thanks to a 48.575-44.75 advantage.

In the team passed, the Crusaders' best score came in the trio pass by scoring an 8.35/8.75.

Tia Fluellen, Mckenna Shane and Meagan Henry competed for the Abbey in that heat.

Fluellen and Henry also put together strong scores in the Aerial and Open individual passes, scoring 9.375/9.55 and an 8.575/8.75, respectively.

King led 152.75-152.225 going into the team event.

Event 6 — Team Event
The meet concluded with a pair of close scores in the team event. King finished with 75.94/93.34 while Belmont Abbey scored a 74.5/95.20.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders are off for two weeks before they return to the mat.
• Belmont Abbey will travel to Mars Hill for a tri-meet against th host Lions and Lander starting at 6 p.m. from Chambers Gymnasium.