Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling Opens Season with Commanding Win Over Saint Leo
ST. LEO, FL - The reigning No.
1 Baylor acrobatics & tumbling squad didn’t just kick off its season with a win - it made a statement. The Bears rolled past No.
11 Saint Leo University on the road, pulling away late to notch a 277.415-256.590 victory and extend their win streak against the Lions to four straight.
Head coach Fee Mulkey summed it up best: “This was a great way to start the season. We left some points on the mat, but we’ll make adjustments before heading to Azusa next week.”
A Tight Start, Then Baylor Found Its Rhythm
Things started tight in the Compulsory event, with both teams executing well across the board. Baylor edged ahead early, thanks in part to a 9.60 in the Acro heat and an 8.65 in Tumbling. But Saint Leo kept it close, winning the Pyramid heat and staying within striking distance at 37.90-37.70 after the first event.
From there, the Bears began to open things up.
Acro Event: Baylor Pushes Ahead
In the optional Acro event, Baylor found another gear. The 5 Element heat featured Maddy Jenson and Leavy McDonald combining for a 9.95 - a tone-setting performance.
The synchronized 6 Element heat brought more of the same, with four top-base pairs working in sync to post a 9.90. Then came a special moment: Makayla Vasquez and Mo Arthur pulled off a skill never before seen in the sport, scoring a 9.90 in the open heat.
That kind of innovation doesn’t just earn points - it sets a tone for the season.
By the end of the Acro event, Baylor had built a 67.65-66.55 lead.
Pyramid Event: Perfection on Display
The Bears didn’t slow down in the Pyramid event. Vasquez and Arthur were back at it, this time delivering the season’s first perfect 10 in the Inversion heat - a flawless execution that had the judges reaching for the top score. The synchronized heat followed with a 9.90, while the open heat saw a dip to 8.80, allowing Saint Leo to slightly outscore Baylor in the event, 29.65-28.70.
Still, at halftime, Baylor held a narrow 96.35-96.20 lead. The margin was slim, but the momentum was shifting.
Toss Event: Baylor Begins to Separate
The second half opened with the Toss event, and this is where Baylor started to create real distance. Washington led the charge, topping in all three heats and scoring a 9.65, 9.60, and 9.85, respectively. Saint Leo couldn’t keep pace, and Baylor’s 29.10 in the event pushed the overall score to 125.45-122.50.
Tumbling: Baylor’s Depth Shines
The Tumbling event turned into a showcase for Baylor’s depth and technical firepower. The Duo pass from Emily Bott and Lawrence Owens earned a 9.35, while the Trio of Gigi Rendino, Alyiah Thomas, and Ashlyn Tannehill followed with an 8.85. The Quad pass - a demanding sequence of flips and layouts - added a 9.35 to the tally.
Then came Bott’s aerial pass, a high-difficulty sequence that netted a 9.825. Rendino and Washington closed it out with a 9.50 and 9.75, respectively. Across all heats, Baylor scored 56.625 in Tumbling, compared to Saint Leo’s 52.350, stretching the lead to 182.075-174.850.
Team Event: Baylor Closes the Door
With the meet firmly in hand, Baylor sealed the win in the Team event, scoring a 95.34 to Saint Leo’s 81.74. That final push brought the Bears to 277.415 overall - a 20.825-point margin of victory.
New Faces, Big Moments
Coach Mulkey had high praise for her newcomers, especially rookie Mo Arthur, who introduced a new skill in the 7 Element Acro and scored a 9.90. She followed that up with a perfect 10 in the first heat of Pyramid - not a bad debut.
What’s Next
With the season opener behind them, Baylor now turns its focus to Azusa. There’s work to do - as Mulkey noted, some points were left on the mat - but if this performance is any indication, the Bears are in for another dominant season.