Fairmont, W.Va. – The West Liberty University acrobatics & tumbling team saw their postseason run come to an end on Friday night in the semifinal round of the MEC Tournament in a 272.290-256.800 loss to No. 7 Fairmont State. The Hilltoppers were unable to secure an event win in the match-up but posted a score of 9.0 or better in ten heats.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 256.800, No. 7 Fairmont State 272.290
Team Records: West Liberty 4-6 (2-3 MEC), No. 7 Fairmont State 7-1 (5-0 MEC)
Attendance: 412
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The second semifinal of the night got underway as Fairmont State earned a 38.000-36.600 win over West Liberty in the Compulsory events. The Hilltoppers notched a trio of heat scores above 9.0 in the event as they scored 9.350 in the Acro Heat, 9.675 in the Pyramid Heat, 9.550 in the Toss Heat, and 8.025 in the Tumbling Heat. Helping WLU post their highest score in the event, the Pyramid Heat, was the groups of Kayla Gandy, Savannah Turner-Davis, Abbey Horvath, Abigail Salzman, Gabby Guldin, and Abbey Swinderman forming one pyramid, while the other group consisted of Chloe Palmer, Avery Ray, Katelyn Emborsky, Kylinn Hartman, Paige Lawrence, Peyton Fry, and Maryn Donnelly.
• The Falcons extended their lead over the Hilltoppers with a 28.525-25.775 win in the Acro events. The Black & Gold recorded a pair of scores above 9.0 as they earned 9.000 in Five-Element Acro, 9.050 in Six-Element Acro, and 7.725 in Seven-Element Acro. In the Six-Element Acro heat for West Liberty was Kallie Moses, Elle Godby, Guldin, and Liz Poling in one group, while the other consisted of Turner-Davis, Gillian Hartz, Ray, Emborsky, and Macey Whipkey.
• Another narrow defeat for WLU brought the teams into the halftime break as a 28.825-28.625 margin of victory for FSU brought the running total to 95.350-91.000 in favor of the Falcons. West Liberty recorded scores of 9.0 or better in all three heats, recording scores of 9.350 in Inversion Pyramid, 9.575 in Synchronized Pyramid, and 9.700 in Open Pyramid. Competing for the Hilltoppers in the Open Pyramid heat and helping post their highest score of the event was Gandy, Horvath, Palmer, Hartz, Hartman, Guldin, Olivia Kniola, Poling, and Fry.
• Out of the halftime break Fairmont State won the Toss event by a score of 27.650-25.825. West Liberty earned scores of 8.650 in 450 Salto Toss, 8.725 in Synchronized Toss, and 8.450 in the Open Toss. Leading the way for WLU with their highest score in the event, the Synchronized Toss, was Gandy, Horvath, Abbi Francisco, Kniola, and Swinderman in one group, while the other consisted of Turner-Davis, Palmer, Ray, Emborsky, Lawrence, and Caitlin Lowery.
• The Falcons widened the gap with a 53.550-51.475 win over the Hilltoppers in the Tumbling event. The Black & Gold recorded a pair of scores above 9.0 in the match-up, scoring 8.300 in Duo Tumbling, 7.925 in Trio Tumbling, 8.000 in Quad Tumbling, 9.575 in Aerial Tumbling, 9.075 in Six-Element Tumbling, and 8.600 in Open Tumbling. Attempting an Aerial Pass with a 10.000 start value difficulty, Gandy posted the Hilltoppers highest score of the event.
• Closing out the meet with their sixth event win of the night, Fairmont State earned a 95.740-88.500 victory in the team event over West Liberty to bring the final score to 272.290-256.800.

UP NEXT
The West Liberty acrobatics & tumbling team will end their season by competing in five heats of the MEC Event Finals tomorrow morning. The Hilltoppers are set to participate in Seven-Element Acro, Synchronized Pyramid, Quad Tumbling, Aerial Tumbling, and Six-Element Tumbling on the final day of the MEC Acrobatics & Tumbling Championships, which gets underway at 11 a.m. inside Joe Retton Arena in Fairmont, West Virginia.