BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State acrobatics & tumbling team continued to build the foundation in their second year of competition with improvements in every event and nearly every heat. Head Coach
Alia Stark led the Bengals for a second straight season and continues to build an emerging sport at Buffalo State.
The Bengals picked up their first win of the season against Calvin where they scored 184.810. Later in the season, the team scored a program record 197.550 in a matchup with #12 Duquesne. Overall, Stark's squad improved in all six events (compulsory, acro, pyramid, toss, tumbling, and team) and set program records in 12 heats within those events. Buffalo State also had the opportunity to host the NCATA Division III Tournament where they welcomed seven other programs from around the country. The Bengals finished sixth overall.
Individually, the Bengals had multiple athletes with breakouts seasons. Earing a spot on the NCATA All-Tournament Team was
Adrienne Gardner (Fairfield, CA/St. Patrick-St. Vincent) on the First Team and
Jackie Heyden (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) on the Second Team. Also having a strong season was
Emma Ball (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) and
Lucy Ingro (Newfane, NY/Newfane) who were staples with Gardner and Heyden in the tumbling events for the Bengals. In the tumbling events, Buffalo State set program marks in the quad pass heat as well as the ariel pass heat.
Stark's team also showed success in the classroom with nine earning a spot on the NCATA Academic Honor Roll. Ball, Heyden, Ingro,
Emma Fitzpatrick (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem),
November Maziarz (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West),
Kaylie Murray (Palmyra, NY/Palmyra-Macedon),
Julia Purpura (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill),
Bri Rohrer (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew), and
Caitlin Wilhite (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) were all recognized for posting a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
The season also saw a huge step for the sport in general. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics voted to recommend acrobatics & tumbling for NCAA Championship status across all three divisions. Should the committee's recommendation continue, the first NCAA Championship would be held in the Spring of 2027.
Overall, it was another step forward for the acrobatics & tumbling program. Heading into year three of competition in 2026, Stark and her squad will look to continue to grow the sport and build on their successful second season in action.
