MONTEVALLO, Ala. - University of Montevallo President John W. Stewart III and Director of Athletics Mark Richard have announced the addition of women's acrobatics and tumbling as the schools' 23^rd intercollegiate athletics sport that will begin in the 2024-25 season. 
 
The inaugural season for the program will begin in the spring of 2025 as it increases UM's sport total to 23. The announcement marks the addition of the 12th new intercollegiate sport added at Montevallo within the past 10 years. Student-athletes will report to campus in the fall of 2024 and begin competing in the spring of 2025.
 
"We're excited about the continued growth within our athletic department," said Montevallo Athletic Director Mark Richard. "We're proud to offer the opportunity for talented student-athletes to pursue acrobatics and tumbling at the collegiate level. We look forward to adding to our high-achieving student-athlete population on campus."


Acrobatics and Tumbling is currently an emerging sport across all NCAA Divisions and Montevallo will become the 35^th NCAA Division-II school to sponsor the sport. UM will become the only school NCAA school in Alabama to sponsor acrobatics and tumbling, a rapidly growing sport across the nation.
 
Currently, acrobatics and tumbling is governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association which hosts the National Championships each April.
 
"The NCATA welcomes Montevallo to the Acrobatics & Tumbling community," said NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. "Montevallo becomes our first member in the state of Alabama.  Gymnasts and cheerleaders in the state, and region, will benefit from new, unique opportunities to be a varsity student-athlete at Montevallo.   We look forward to working with Athletic Director Mark Richard and his team to implement their program." 

A national search for the program's first head coach will begin soon. The team will compete at Trustmark Arena, inside the Robert M. McChesney Student Activity Center, beginning in the spring of 2025.

Montevallo is the first institution in the state of Alabama to add acrobatics and tumbling.  The University will become the 35th NCAA Division II institution to add the sport and the 52^nd school across NCAA Division I, II, and III. In addition, Montevallo will be the only school in the Gulf South Conference to sponsor acrobatics and tumbling. It is estimated that over 900 student-athletes are competing in the sport during the 2022-23 season, with that number expected to continue rising.
 
"In addition to providing new opportunities for women, our continued growth is an important part of our mission to reach NCAA championship status.  With 51 institutions actively recruiting, the addition of Montevallo strengthens our membership and paves the way for additional growth in the region."
 
CURRENT NCATA SPONSORING MEMBERS

NCATA By-The-Numbers
Total NCAA Programs – 51
NCAA Division I Programs – 8
NCAA Division II Programs – 34
NCAA Division III Programs – 9
 
NCAA Division I - 8
Baylor University
Duquesne University
Iona University
Long Island University
Morgan State University
University of Oregon
Presbyterian College
Quinnipiac University
 
NCAA Division II – 34
Alderson Broaddus University
Augustana University (S.D.)
Azusa Pacific University
Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bluefield State College
Caldwell University
Chowan University
Coker University
Converse College
Davis & Elkins College
East Stroudsburg University
Emmanuel College
Erskine College
Fairmont State University
Felician University
Francis Marion University
Frostburg State University
Gannon University
Georgian Court University
Glenville State College
Hawaii Pacific University
Holy Family University
King University
Kutztown University (Pa.)
Lander University
Limestone University
Mars Hill University
Notre Dame College
Saint Leo University
West Liberty University
West Virginia State University
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Wingate University (N.C.)
 
NCAA Division III - 9
Adrian College
Buffalo State College
Calvin University
Concordia University Wisconsin
East Texas Baptist University
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Stevenson University
Texas Lutheran University
Trine University
 
 
 
ABOUT ACROBATICS AND TUMBLING
 
OVERVIEW: Acrobatics & Tumbling meets are exciting, fast paced, and fan friendly.  Each meet is held as a contest between 2-3 teams.  Each team has up to 28 competitors on their game-day roster and compete in six events throughout the meet, including: Compulsory, Acro, Pyramid, Toss, Tumbling, and Team.
 

COMPETITION FORMAT: Teams participate in head-to-head competition, in meets of two of three teams.  A meet consists of six events, with a total of twenty heats.  Event order: Compulsory (4 heats), Acro (3 heats), Pyramid (3 heats), HALFTIME (15:00), Toss (3 heats), Tumbling (6 heats), and Team (1 heat).  Scores are based on pre-determined start values and evaluated on the execution of skills.  In any given heat, 1-24 student-athletes may be competing as individuals or in groups.
 
PLAYING & PRACTICE SEASON: Spring; 144-day season (DI & DII), 19-week season (DIII); First contest: Feb 1; Min/Max contests: 6/12.  Student-athletes train year-round to safely progress in skills and prepare for their season of competition.
 
CHAMPIONSHIPS:  The first NCATA National Championships took place in 2011 at the University of Oregon.  Championships are held annually in April on an NCATA member campus with event and team championships. 
 
MEETING INTERESTS AND ABILITIES: Over 9 million young women participate in the skill sets of acrobatics & tumbling, through youth participation in all disciplines of gymnastics (5M) or cheerleading (4M). 
 
USA GYMNASTICS YOUTH TEAM ACROBATICS & TUMBLING: USA Gymnastics is committed to growing the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling at the collegiate and youth levels.  USA Gymnastics governs A&T as a team sport for youth programs, hosting championships in the summer since 2014.
 
NCATA WEBSITE: thencata.org
NCATA SOCIAL MEDIA: @thencata