Caldwell Univ. First In NJ To Add Acrobatics, Tumbling As Sport

CALDWELL, NJ — Caldwell University has notched a sports-related milestone, becoming the first college in New Jersey to add acrobatics and tumbling as a varsity sport.

On Monday, the university announced the addition of women’s acrobatics and tumbling as an intercollegiate sport for the 2021-2022 academic year, increasing its varsity sports opportunities to 17.

Student athletes will compete in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA). Competition at the school will begin in spring 2022.

Caldwell University becomes the 35th NCAA school and the 37th collegiate institution nationwide to sponsor acrobatics and tumbling as a varsity sport, administrators said.

NCATA President Renee Baumgartner welcomed Caldwell University to the fold.

“Caldwell is our first member in New Jersey and continues recent expansion of Acrobatics & Tumbling programs in the northeast,” Baumgartner said.

Here are the basics of the sport, according to Caldwell University:

“Acrobatics and tumbling is the evolution of different disciplines of gymnastics, which includes the athletic aspects of competitive cheerleading. The format was created at the collegiate level to address the interest and abilities of young women competing in this skill set. Individuals and small groups execute acrobatic lifts, tosses, and tumbling. Meets include six events, all of which are competed on the floor and in varying group sizes.”

Caldwell will begin its search for a full-time head coach immediately and will have recruitment forms available for high school acrobatics and tumbling participants who seek to join the new program this coming fall.

Scholarships will be available for the acrobatics and tumbling program, administrators said.

Any applicants interested in applying for the head coach position can click here. All prospective acrobatics and tumbling student-athletes can complete their recruitment form here. For additional information on the acrobatic and tumbling program, email [email protected].

Caldwell University President Matthew Whelan said the college is excited about its latest varsity sport.

“Recently designated as an emerging sport by the NCAA, acrobatics and tumbling currently has over three million young women involved in club and high school programs,” Whelan said. “This market will open doors to a whole new generation of women who can benefit from our Catholic, Dominican education and increase participation opportunities for women in our NCAA programs.”

Mark Corino, assistant vice president and director of athletics, was likewise optimistic about the program.

“With this addition of our 17th varsity program, the athletics department is excited and enthusiastic about continuing to play a major role in the expansion of our university,” Corino said.

The university has launched seven new programs since the start of the 2013-14 year, adding women’s lacrosse for the 2013-14 academic year, followed by men’s cross country and track and field along with women’s bowling in 2014-15. Sprint football completed its inaugural season in 2017-18, and men’s lacrosse started competition in 2019-20.

• See related article: Caldwell University Sprint Football Team Kicks Off Inaugural Season

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