Falcons Soar on Saturday Night

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin acrobatics & tumbling team had the fans going wild at the NCATA Division III Tournament Event Finals on Saturday night.

"It has been such an amazing experience getting to host this tournament," said head coach Sarah Koenig. "I think it's really important to showcase the talent Division III student-athletes have and this event brings out the best in our teams. The support from all of the schools towards one another's athletes is something really special that I don't think you see in other sports. Huge thank you to all the CUW athletics staff who made this possible and came out to support us! Getting to end the tournament with our third consecutive championship title in the open toss is something I am so proud of. The whole team really worked hard and pushed themselves leading up to this event and I'm excited they get to see their hard work pay off."

The Falcons first competed in the seven-element acro heat on Saturday night with senior Paityn Taormina (Geneva, Ill.) junior Ellen Marie Sanders (Joppa, Md.), senior Eliana Schmit (Germantown, Wis.) and senior Haleigh Komprood (Janesville, Wis.).

The Blue and White put up a battle in the open pyramid with Paityn Taormina, Madisen Arendt, Haleigh Komprood, Eliana Schmit and sophomore Ainslee Taylor (Alto, Mich.).

Concordia quailed two teams in the toss event on Saturday. Starting with the synchronized toss with Alexis Pfeifle, freshman Cadia Sanders (Joppa, Md.), junior Madisen Arendt (Waukesha, Wis.), senior Amanda Owens (Stevens Point, Wis.), Paityn Taormina, sophomore Jadyn Vail (Belvidere, Ill.), Haleigh Komprood, Ellen Marie Sanders, Ainslee Taylor and sophomore Kate Kotula (Wyomissing, Pa.).

The Falcons claimed the NCATA Division III crown in the open toss at 9.425 points with the team of Paityn Taormina, Ellen Marie Sanders, Eliana Schmit, Alexis Pfeifle and Ainslee Taylor.

The Birds put on a spectacular show in the quad pass with Paityn Taormina, Eliana Schmit, Alexis Pfeifle and Ainslee Taylor.

Paityn Taormina placed an exclamation point on her storied career at Concordia with an incredible performance in the open pass.

"The past 20 years of my athletics career has been an amazing journey," said Taormina. "I didn't want it to end any other way than being a national champion for the first D3 program to ever compete a double toss. Proud is an understatement not only for my career but for all of the people who got me here."

Paityn Taormina and Alexis Pfeifle were voted to the NCATA Division III All-Tournament First Team. Concordia also had Ellen Marie Sanders, Madisen Arendt and Ainslee Taylor all on the All-Tournament Second Team.

Saturday marked the final chapter of the 2024 journey for the Falcons.