In a thrilling display of skill and precision, the top-ranked Baylor acrobatics & tumbling team secured a commanding victory over No. 4 Iona, posting a score of 281.030 to Iona's 266.045. This win not only completed their road sweep at the Hynes Athletic Center but also marked an impressive 57th consecutive victory for the Bears, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
Baylor, now 7-0, faced a formidable Iona team (2-1) but managed to outscore them by 14.985 points. Coming into the meet, Baylor already had a slight edge with a 4.72 point advantage in start value, and they capitalized on it with precision.
The competition kicked off with the Compulsory event, where both teams executed their routines with a start value of 10. Baylor edged out Iona in each heat, starting with a 9.70 in the Acro heat compared to Iona's 9.50.
The Bears continued their strong performance with a 9.80 in the Pyramid heat, narrowly surpassing Iona's 9.70. Baylor maintained their momentum in the Toss heat with a 9.85, while Iona scored 9.65.
The Tumbling heat saw Baylor score 8.95 to Iona's 8.40, giving the Bears a 1.05-point lead after the first event.
In the optional Acro event, Baylor continued to shine, posting a 9.95 in the first heat, with Iona following at 9.70. The synchronized 6 Element heat saw Baylor's diverse pairs score 9.80 against Iona's 9.45. Baylor wrapped up the Acro event with a 29.55 to Iona's 28.80, extending their lead to 1.80 points.
The Pyramid event was another highlight for Baylor. They started strong with a 9.95 in the Inversion heat, while Iona scored 9.90.
Baylor's synchronized heat featured Payton Washington and Bott, who scored 9.90, edging out Iona's 9.75. The Open heat was a standout moment, with Sofia Criado and Leavy McDonald achieving a perfect 10.
Baylor's total for the Pyramid event was 97.70, compared to Iona's 95.50.
As the meet progressed into the second half, Baylor continued to dominate in the Toss event. Tannehill led with a 9.60 in the 450 Salto heat, surpassing Iona's 9.30.
The synchronized heat saw Washington and Tannehill earn a 9.40, while Iona scored 9.10. Baylor finished the Toss event with a 9.90 in the Open heat, bringing their total to 28.90 against Iona's 27.70, widening their lead to 3.35 points.
In the Tumbling event, Baylor's depth shone through. Despite Iona's duo scoring a 9.60, Baylor's Emily Bott and Lawrence Owens posted a 9.50.
The Trio saw Baylor's Alyiah Thomas, Gigi Rendino, and Ashlyn Tannehill score 9.50, while Iona managed 8.55. Baylor's Quad pass team added a 9.35, and Bott scored an impressive 9.85 in the Aerial pass.
Lexie Lannon matched Iona's 9.80 in the 6 Element heat, and Washington delivered a perfect 10 in the Open heat. Baylor finished the Tumbling event with a 58.00 to Iona's 54.775, leading by 6.575 points heading into the final event.
In the Team event, Baylor sealed their victory with a score of 96.43 to Iona's 88.02. The Bears concluded the meet with a total score of 281.030, triumphing over Iona's 266.045 by 14.985 points.
Up next, the Bears will enjoy a brief break before hosting Duquesne on March 28 at 5 p.m., with the action streaming live on ESPN+. For all things Baylor acrobatics & tumbling, fans can follow the team on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram at @BaylorAcroTumb.