Limestone, Converse Fall in NCATA National Tournament Quarterfinals
Limestone Box Score | Converse Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. – Conference Carolinas champion Limestone and tournament runner-up Converse each saw their seasons come to an end in the quarterfinals of the National Collegaite Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships inside Matthew Knight Arena on the campus of Oregon University on Thursday (April 28) night.
Limestone, the sixth seed in the championships, opened competition against third-seeded Gannon. After the Knights took an early 67-65.825 lead after the compulsory and acro events, the Saints cut into the lead with a win in the inversion pyramid, but the Knights won both the synchronized and open pyramid heats to take a 96.575-95.275 lead at halftime. The Saints also earned a win in the open pass of the tumbling event (9.80-9.75) but Gannon won the other five heats to push the lead to 181.70-176.075. Limestone posted an 85.03 in the team event, but it was not enough as the Knights won the meet, 266.7-261.105.
The eighth seed in the field, Converse went toe-to-toe with the reigning national champions and top seed Baylor. The Valkyries scored 9.7 or higher in four different heats, but trailed 97.875-93.375 at halftime. They scored a meet-best 9.775 in the open pyramid and made some gains on the Bears in the tumbling heats. Converse bested Baylor in the quad pass (8.225-7.250) and aerial pass (9.525-8.30) in the tumbling event, but it was not enough in a 271.325-260.195 loss.
Limestone and Converse will each compete in the National Event Finals set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 30.
All meets will be streamed live on ESPN+. To see the official championship release from the NCATA and learn more, please visit here.