BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team returned home for its second home meet of the season against Wingate Thursday evening at the Wheeler Center.
 
The Crusaders put up some solid scores but it was the Bulldogs who came away with a 244.465-233.615 victory over the Abbey.

With the result, Belmont Abbey is now 0-5 overall and in Conference Carolinas competition. Wingate is 6-0 overall, 5-0 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 — Compulsory
The meet opened with the two teams being separated by less than a point with Wingate scoring a 35.3 compared to a 34.05 for Belmont Abbey. The two best scores for the Crusaders came in the Pyramid heat and Toss heat with scores of 9.55 and 9.35, respectively.

Event 2 — Acro
In the Acro event, the Crusaders finished with a 25.55 total score from a 29.5 total start value. The best score for the Abbey came in 5 Element Acro, scoring a 8.95/9.95.  
 
Competing for Belmont Abbey in the heat was Mackenzie Linegar, Andresa Orendain, Grace Carroll, Brielle Ehasz and Katilyn Blakeney.
 
Wingate scored an 28.05/29.95 in the event.

Event 3 — Pyramid
Belmont Abbey concluded the first half of the meet putting up good scores once again in the event with two scores of 9.2 or higher.
 
The best heat score for the Crusaders in Open Pyramid, scoring a 9.85/10 with Sarah Brady, Payton Lanier, Brianna Buchear, Alyssa Westbrook, Mackenzie Linegar and Allison Gonyo competing for the Abbey.
 
Belmont Abbey also added an 9.2/9.8 in the Synchronized Pyramid and an 8.7/9.5 in the Inversion Pyramid.

The Crusaders scored 27.75 points compared to 28.85 for the Bulldogs and Wingate led 92.20-87.35 at halftime.

Event 4 — Toss
The second half of the meet continued in the Toss event, with Belmont Abbey scoring  a total of 24.25 points compared to 26.05 for Wingate.
Belmont Abbey's best score came in the Open Toss with an 8.55/9.4. Brady, Buchear, Carroll, Blakeney, Linegar and Isabella Schrout all competed in the heat for the Abbey.
 
Event 5 — Tumbling
The Crusaders finished with a total of 47.525 points compared to 50.325 for Wingate.
 
In the team passes, the best score came in the Trio Pass with Belmont Abbey scoring a 7.65/8.75. Tia Fluellen competed along with Mckenna Shane and Meagan Henry in the heat. The Crusaders also scored a 7.5/8.6 in Duo with Sadie Hunt and Payton Lanier competing.
 
The individual passes all had good scores by finishing just 1.125 points off of the start values. Fluellen scored a 9.1/9.55 in the Aerial Pass. Hunt added an 8.3/8.6 in the 6 Element Pass while Henry scored an 8.375/8.75 in the Open Pass.

Event 6 — Team Event
The meet concluded with Belmont Abbey scoring an 74.49/96.19 compared to an 75.89/98.99 for Wingate.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will prepare for their final home meet of the season next Friday against Francis Marion on Senior Night.
• The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at the Wheeler Center.
• Five seniors will be honored following the conclusion of the meet.