Baylor
Saint Leo
No. 1 A&T Wins Big to Start Season at No. 11 Saint Leo
2/6/2026 11:46:00 PM | Acrobatics & Tumbling
Bears took the meet by over 20.8 points
ST. LEO, FLORIDA. – The No. 1-ranked Baylor acrobatics & tumbling team opened the season with a road victory over No. 11 Saint Leo University, winning 277.415–256.590 on Friday afternoon.
"This was a great way to start the season," head coach Fee Mulkey said. "We left some points on the mat. We will make adjustments before we head to Azusa next week."
The Bears (1-0) defeated the Lions (0-1) by over 20.8 points to start the season, increasing the meet win streak to 4 in a row against Saint Leo.
The meet opened with the Compulsory event, where both teams successfully executed the required skills. In the Acro heat, Baylor scored a 9.60, followed closely by Saint Leo's 9.55. The Bears narrowly dropped the Pyramid heat, 9.90–9.95, before responding with a 9.75 in the Toss heat to Saint Leo's 9.70. Baylor closed Compulsory with an 8.65 in the Tumbling heat, while the Lions earned an 8.50. After one event, Baylor held a slight 37.90–37.70 advantage.
Baylor began the optional portion of the meet in the Acro event. In the 5 Element heat, featuring Maddy Jenson as the top and Leavy McDonald as the base, the Bears earned a 9.95, while Saint Leo followed with a 9.85. In the synchronized 6 Element heat, which featured four different top-base pairs, Baylor posted a 9.90, with the Lions scoring 9.25. In the open heat, Makayla Vasquez and Mo Arthur scored a 9.90 after competing a skill never before performed in the sport. Saint Leo followed with a 9.75. Baylor totaled 29.75 in the Acro event to Saint Leo's 28.85, moving the overall score to 67.65–66.55 in favor of the Bears.
In the Pyramid event, Baylor recorded the first perfect 10 of the season in the Inversion heat, with Vasquez and Arthur delivering a flawless performance. Saint Leo scored a 9.85 in the same heat. In the synchronized heat, Washington and Emily Bott topped, based by McDonald and Meredith Wells, earning a 9.90, while the Lions scored 9.85. In the open heat, Vasquez topped McDonald for an 8.80, which Saint Leo topped with a 9.85. Baylor scored 28.70 in the Pyramid event, while Saint Leo earned 29.65.
At halftime, Baylor narrowly led Saint Leo, 96.35–96.20.
The Bears opened the second half with the Toss event. In the 450 Salto heat, Washington topped and scored a 9.65, followed by an 8.75 from Saint Leo. In the synchronized heat, Washington and Ashlyn Tannehill topped for a 9.60, while the Lions scored 8.35. Washington topped again in the open heat, earning a 9.85, with Saint Leo scoring 9.20. Baylor totaled 29.10 in the Toss event to Saint Leo's 26.30, pushing the overall score to 125.45–122.50.
Baylor continued to build separation in the Tumbling event. In the Duo pass, Emily Bott and Lawrence Owens scored a 9.35 on their round off whip to whip, back handspring to back layout 540, while Saint Leo scored 9.15. The Trio of Gigi Rendino, Alyiah Thomas and Tannehill earned an 8.85 with a roundoff back handspring to back layout 540 to roundoff back layout 360, with the Lions scoring 8.00. In the Quad pass, Washington, Sofia Criado, Sarah Kerr and Kaminski scored a 9.35 for their front tuck roundoff back handspring back layout 540 round off back layout 360, while Saint Leo earned a 7.35. Bott followed with a 9.825 in the Aerial pass after competing a round off whip to whip to whip, back handspring to back layout 540, compared to a 9.25 from the Lions. Rendino competed the 6 Element pass competing a round off whip to Arabian tuck to roundoff back handspring to back layout 540, and scored a 9.50, matching Saint Leo's score. Washington closed the event with a 9.75 in the Open pass, while the Lions earned a 9.10. Baylor totaled 56.625 in Tumbling to Saint Leo's 52.350, extending the lead to 182.075–174.850.
In the final Team event, Baylor competed first and scored a 95.34. Saint Leo followed with an 81.74.
Baylor finished the meet with a final score of 277.415, defeating Saint Leo's 256.590 to secure the 20.825-point victory.
Mulkey also praised Baylor's newcomers after the meet. "I am proud of some of our new faces," Mulkey said. "Rookie, Mo Arthur introduced a new skill in 7 element Acro scoring a 9.9, and then a 10 in heat one Pyramid."
To stay up to date all year long on Baylor acrobatics & tumbling, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram: @BaylorAcroTumb.
— BaylorBears.com—
