WACO, Texas - Bears Dominate NCATA Weekly Awards
In a remarkable display of talent, the Bears have swept the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) weekly awards for the eighth time in their history. Rising stars Mo Arthur, Payton Washington, and Leavy McDonald each took home honors, highlighting a week of exceptional performances.
Mo Arthur: Freshman Phenom
Mo Arthur, a freshman sensation from Owensville, Missouri, clinched her second consecutive Freshman of the Week award. Competing in nine individual heats plus the team event, Arthur consistently scored 9.65 or higher, showcasing her prowess across the board.
Arthur's standout moment came with a perfect 10.0 in the Compulsory Toss. This marks her second perfect score of the season, underscoring her immediate impact as both a base and mid-level performer.
Her versatility was on full display as she opened with a 9.70/10 in Compulsory Acro and a 9.80/10 in Compulsory Pyramid. Arthur's role as a base in the 5-Element Acro heat earned her a 9.90/10, while her performance in Heat 1 and Heat 2 Pyramid scored 9.90/10 and 9.70/10, respectively.
Arthur anchored the innovative slide-to-split 3-high pyramid in Heat 3, scoring a 9.85/10. This challenging structure requires exceptional strength and coordination, which Arthur executed with confidence.
She continued her strong showing in Toss, achieving 9.65/10 in Heat 2 and 9.90/10 in Heat 3. In the Team Event, Arthur's elite acro sequence was a highlight, completing five of the 30 required skills with precision.
Payton Washington: Athlete of the Week
Payton Washington earned her second Athlete of the Week honor with a series of stellar performances across nine individual heats and the team event. Her highlight reel includes a perfect 10.0 in Compulsory Toss and a 9.70/10 in Compulsory Acro, showcasing her elite body control and execution.
Washington excelled in the 7-Element Optional Acro heat, scoring 9.85/10, and topped the Heat 2 Pyramid with a 9.70/10. Her prowess continued in Heat 2 and Heat 3 Toss, scoring 9.65/10 and 9.90/10, respectively.
Washington's tumbling skills shone with a 9.40/10 in Heat 3 Tumbling (Quad) and 9.75/10 in Heat 6 Tumbling (Open). Her comprehensive performance in the Team Event included three standing tumbling passes, two tosses, and three acro skills, all executed with elite difficulty and precision.
Leavy McDonald: Specialist of the Week
Leavy McDonald, earning her first weekly honor, delivered a technically demanding performance across six individual heats and the team event. Her contributions began with a 9.70/10 in Compulsory Acro and a 9.80/10 in Compulsory Pyramid. McDonald played a crucial role in securing a perfect 10.0 in the Compulsory Toss.
In the 7-Element Acro, McDonald scored 9.85/10, serving as the sole base for all elements, demonstrating her strength and coordination. She excelled in the slide-to-split 3-high pyramid in Heat 3, scoring 9.85/10. McDonald's performance in the Team Event included five acro skills, each with a start value of 10, contributing significantly to the routine's difficulty and execution.
Next Up for the Bears
The Bears are set to host UMHB for their home opener on February 22 at the Ferrell Center. The "Go Gold" meet promises excitement, featuring post-meet autographs for fans.