‘This is just the beginning’: Acro shines on national stage

In just their third season of competition, the No. 4-seeded Augustana Acrobatics and Tumbling team wasn’t just a part of the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association national competition — they were the heart of it. 

As hosts of the 2025 National Championship, the Vikings stepped confidently into the national spotlight, showcasing their strengths, skills and spirit that carried them through an undefeated season full of growth and milestones. With two athletes earning conference honors and a hometown crowd behind them, Augustana made it clear that its story is just getting started. 

“It takes a village to build up a program like this, especially this quickly,” coach Kaelyn Dillon said during a press conference. “To see everyone fully embrace it — the crowd, the community — it’s surreal.”

Augustana opened competition with a decisive 256.815–248.695 victory over No. 5 Fairmont State in the quarterfinals on April 24 at the Elmen Center. The Vikings established an early lead in the compulsory event and maintained momentum throughout the meet, highlighted by a 9.90 in the open pyramid and a 9.80 in the open tumbling pass. 

It was a complete team effort that reflected the consistency Dillon has praised throughout the season.

"I’ve said it over and over,” Dillon said.  “Consistency is the biggest area of growth for this team. We’ve gotten so much better at doing the same thing more than once — that comes with maturity, and it’s a big reason we’ve gotten to this point.”

The win advanced Augustana to its first-ever national semifinal appearance and extended its undefeated season record to 7–0, including four victories against ranked opponents. 

“I came back specifically to help lead this team to Nationals,” fifth-year senior Kay Greene said. “To have the opportunity to be on the mat and compete with these girls feels amazing.”

In the semifinal round on April 25, Augustana faced a formidable challenge in No. 1 Baylor, a program with nine straight NCATA national titles entering the tournament. Despite a strong performance and the support of over 1,300 fans, the Vikings ultimately fell 279.325–256.465. The meet showcased Augustana’s resilience and growth, even as Baylor advanced to win its 10th consecutive national championship final and would secure the title on April 26.

Paige Simon, a junior base, top and tumbler, echoed that sentiment, noting that the team felt free to perform without pressure. 

“I feel like we didn’t have that much pressure on us because it’s our first time,” Simon said. “So we were just having a great time, and it was really fun.”

Junior Natalie Homerding added, “I cannot believe the crowd and just the support we received from them, but also just on the side, like pumping each other up throughout the entire meet. That was really fun to be a part of.”

The 2025 season marked significant milestones for the acrobatics and tumbling team. The Vikings had a lot of firsts this season: First undefeated regular season, first program record for single-season victories, first win over a ranked opponent and first national semifinal appearance. That ranked win came in a statement victory over No. 6 Gannon, where Augustana won all six events.

The Vikings opened the season ranked No. 11 in the nation and quickly proved they were a team to watch. Augustana notched back-to-back season-opening wins, beginning with a program-best 261.300 at its debut meet. From there, the Vikings continued to raise the bar: They posted their best compulsory event of the season against Azusa Pacific and followed it with a 29.200 season-high pyramid to carry the lead into halftime. When it mattered most, they delivered a 92.590 in the team event, their highest of the season, to seal the win.

That wasn’t the only event where they excelled. The Vikings tallied a season-best 29.250 in pyramid against Concordia while sweeping all 19 heats and later added their top tumbling score of 53.925 in a win over Missouri State.

Key contributors included Homerding and junior McKenna Trowbridge, who both received postseason awards on April 27 following the completion of the individual events championship. Homerding was awarded a spot on the NCATA All-Academic team alongside seven other athletes. Trowbridge became the first Viking to be named an All-American, joining 15 of the top athletes in the nation. Twenty Augustana athletes were named to the Academic Honor Roll. 

“When I found out that I was a NCATA All-American, I was in complete and utter shock,” Trowbridge said. “I knew it was a possibility, but hearing the confirmation made a dream turn into a reality. This award has made me feel like all of the hard work I have put into these past three years has paid off, but there is still so much work to do for my senior season.”

With a roster that blended experienced veterans like Greene with returning juniors such as Homerding, Simon and Trowbridge, the future looks bright for the Vikings. Hosting the national tournament gave the team invaluable exposure and experience, a foundation Dillon believes will fuel the next step forward.

Dillon expressed her excitement for the upcoming season. 

“We are going to be even better,” Dillon said. “This is the beginning of where this team is. Today we had some jitters, semifinal nerves, but the only way to get good at those moments is to be in those moments. Let’s go be top three next year. Let’s keep moving up the chain.”

Whether it was the roar of the crowd, the strength of the routines or the smiles during sideline celebrations, one thing was clear throughout championship weekend: Augustana acrobatics and tumbling isn’t just building something special — it’s building something lasting.