The Basics
The Fairmont State acrobatics & tumbling team is set to compete in the 2023 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association National Championships in the NCATA Quarterfinals versus No. 1 Baylor on Thursday (April 27) at 4:30 p.m. in West Liberty, W.Va.
 
How to Watch
Thursday's meet versus Baylor will be broadcasted on ESPN+ and live scoring will be provided on the NCATA website. Fans can purchase tickets at this link.
 
Fighting Falcons Facts

• The Falcons earned the No. 8 seed in the national tournament after going 9-2 in meets this season. Fairmont State has appeared in the four of the last five NCATA National Championships, stretching back to 2018 and are making their 10^th appearance in the NCATA National Championship in program history.
• The Falcons competed in their fourth consecutive Mountain East Conference Championship Meet and has appeared in MEC Championship Meet since it began in 2019. The Falcons fell in the conference title meet to Frostburg State, 265.545-260.610.
• Fairmont State won four Individual Event Titles at the MEC Championship. The 450 Salto Toss team of Sophia Del Greco, Katey Koehl, Izaria Mcwhorter-Martin, Brylee Knotts, Alexa Wilson and Peyton Barnes claimed the crown with a score of 9.225. The synchronized pyramid team of Del Greco, Koehl, McWhorter-Martin, Knotts, Wilson, Taylor Openlander, Brionni Dowson, Reghan Mollohan, Kassidy Price, Barnes and Olivia Daniels scored a 9.00 to win the event. Del Greco helped the Falcons win their third championship after teaming up with Giavana Poyner in the duo tumbling for an 8.700. The trio tumbling squad of Openlander, Koehl and Zara Christophe rounded out the individual event titles for the Falcons with an 8.375.
• The NCATA Individual Event Finals will be held on Sunday (April 30) at 11 a.m. The NCATA uses the scores for teams in the quarterfinal round to determine the qualifiers for Sunday's Individual Event Finals.
• Katey Koehl was named an NCATA All-American after her spectacular junior season. Koehl is the sixth NCATA All-American in program history and joined Alexis Smith (2021, 2022), Karah Naples (2019), Catherine Reynolds (2019), current Fairmont State A&T Head Coach Danielle Cutri (DiCarlo) (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), and Kayla Green (2012) as Fairmont State NCATA All-Americans.
• Senior Peyton Barnes has received multiple awards for her commitment to the classroom and her leadership on and off the mat. For the third consecutive season, she was named to the NCATA All-Academic Team. The senior from Waldorf, Md. garnered the 2023 Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award, which is given to a senior student-athlete who exemplifies servant leadership throughout her career.
• Barnes has a 3.97 grade-point average as a National Security and Intelligence, Political Science and Criminal Justice major at Fairmont State. She will graduate Summa Cum Laude and is currently enrolled in the Master's of National Security and Intelligence program at FSU. She has logged over 550 hours of community service. Her campus leadership activities include: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (serves as campus president and is a MEC conference representative), Black Student Union President, and Vice President of Iota Phi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
• Fairmont State posted a 9-2 record during the 2023 season and has scored an average of 263.501 points per meet. The Falcons' season-high meet total came versus Frostburg State on March 18 with 271.915 points.
• Six Falcons received All-MEC postseason awards, with Peyton Barnes voted as Specialist of the Year. Emily Brock, Brionni Dowson, Katey Koehl, Izaria Mcwhorter-Martin and Taylor Openlander joined Barnes on all-conference teams.
• Koehl has won MEC Athlete of the Week two times this season (Feb. 14 & March 28).
• Alexa Wilson has been recognized by the NCATA as an Honorable Mention for Freshman of the Week twice this season. Wilson is a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School.
• Last appearance at the NCATA Championships, the Falcons fell to No. 2 Azusa Pacific in Eugene, Ore.
• Danielle Cutri is in her third season in charge of the Fairmont State acrobatics & tumbling team. Cutri was enshrined in the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of Fame in September of 2022 and is one of two four-time NCATA All-Americans. Cutri was selected as MEC Coach of the Year in 2021.

Scouting Baylor
The defending national champions compiled an 8-0 record in the regular season and won every match by at least three points. Seven of the eight Baylor victories have come versus ranked opponents, including defeating No. 2 Oregon twice. The program enjoys a 24-meet winning streak, which dates back to 2021 and has won six NCATA National Championships.
 
The Bears feature high-caliber performers all over the mat including the NCATA Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year, Kamryn Kitchens. Kitchens won four NCATA Athlete of the Week honors and is a two-time NCATA All-American. Jordan Gruendler was selected as NCATA Specialist of the Year and was a key element in Baylor scoring five perfect scores in two different pyramid heats. She won NCATA Specialist of the Week four different times throughout the season. Baylor's Gianna Cameron garnered NCATA Freshman of the Year honors and has helped the Bears earn an average score of 9.89 in compulsory toss.
 
Felecia Mulkey has won all 11 of the NCATA National Championships and owns a record of 114-4 in her 14 seasons coaching acrobatics & tumbling. Before starting at Baylor, she led Oregon to four national titles and has continued her success in Waco, Texas leading Baylor to seven national crowns. She has mentored 33 NCATA All-Americans and has coached 64 individual event titles in her impressive coaching career.
 
2023 NCATA National Championship Schedule
Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) | West Liberty, West Virginia
 
Quarterfinals (Thursday, April 27, 2023)
Meet #1: #3 Azusa Pacific vs. #6 Limestone – 10:30 a.m.
Meet #2: #2 Oregon vs. #7 Frostburg State – 1:30 p.m.
Meet #3: #1 Baylor vs. #8 Fairmont State – 4:30 p.m.
Meet #4: #4 Quinnipiac vs. #5 Gannon – 7:00 p.m.
 
Semifinals (Friday, April 28, 2023)
Meet #5: Azusa Pacific/Limestone vs. Oregon/Frostburg State – 4:30 p.m.
Meet #6: Baylor/Fairmont State vs. Quinnipiac/Gannon – 7:00 p.m.
 
Finals (Saturday, April 29, 2023)
Meet #7: Semifinal winners – 5:00 p.m.
 
Event Finals (Sunday, April 30, 2023) – 11 a.m.