Falcons Corral Mustangs with a Season-High Score in Quarterfinals
MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin acrobatics& tumbling team opened the 2024 NCATA Division III Tournament in winning fashion on Thursday evening. The Falcons improved to 3-5 on the year with a 235.110 – 209.575 victory over the Mustangs of Stevenson. The 235.110 points are a season-high mark for the Falcons.
"I am really proud of the team for scoring a season-high score," said head coach Sarah Koenig. "It was amazing to be able and showcase our program and our university on this national stage. We accomplished a lot of great things tonight and we also have some things we can learn from this evening."
The Falcons opened the evening with 31.575 points in the compulsory event. The Blue and White posted season-high scores in the pyramid heat at 9.625 points and 9.575 points in the toss heat.
The Blue and White added to the lead with 24.35 points in the acro event. The team of senior Paityn Taormina (Geneva, Ill.), junior Ellen Marie Sanders (Joppa, Md.), freshman Gabby Dixon (Elkhorn, Wis.), junior Alexis Pfiefle (Macomb, Mich.), senior Amanda Owens (Stevens Point, Wis.), sophomore Ainslee Taylor (Alto, Mich.), junior Madisen Arendt (Waukesha, Wis.) and senior Eliana Schmit (Germantown, Wis.) secured 8.70 points in the six-element heat.
The Birds built an even bigger lead with 27.275 points in the pyramid event. CUW posted a season-best score of 9.550 points in the synchronized pyramid and finished the event with 9.550 points in the open pyramid.
Concordia Wisconsin finished with a season-high score of 26.675 points in the toss event. The team of Alexis Pfiefle, Ainslee Taylor, Amanda Owens, freshman Cadia Sanders (Joppa, Md.), Madisen Arendt and Eliana Schmit shattered the season-best score in the first heat at 8.75. The open toss with Paityn Taormina, sophomore Jadyn Vail (Belvidere, Ill.), Eliana Schmit, Ellen Marie Sanders and senior Haleigh Komprood (Janesville, Wis.) recorded a season-best tally of 9.375 points.
The tumbling event added to the Concordia lead with 45.475 points. Paityn Taormina led the attack with 8.700 points in the open pass.
CUW closed the evening with a sensational performance in the team event with 79.76 points.
With the victory, the Falcons secured a spot in the semifinals. The Blue and White will face the second-seeded Thunder of Trine. No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor will take on No. 5 Texas Lutheran in the first semifinal contest on Friday.
The Falcons outscored the Mustangs in 15 events on Thursday.
Concordia Wisconsin and Trine are the only two schools to have qualified for all three Division III Tournament semifinals.
