Coker College Announces the Addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling Program
Coker College is pleased to announce the addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling as the 25th varsity sport beginning in 2019.
HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Coker College is pleased to announce the addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling as the 25th varsity sport beginning in 2019. A national search for the program's first head coach is currently underway, with the recruitment of student-athletes to begin shortly thereafter.
"Acrobatics and tumbling is a sport that is growing in interest at the intercollegiate level across the country" said Dr. Lynn Griffin, vice president for athletics and athletic facilities. "With the number of NCAA Division II institutions within our geographic footprint already offering the sport, it is a good time for Coker to make this addition".
Acrobatics and Tumbling meets are typically held as a match between two or more teams and each is filled with excitement, while also being fast-paced and fan friendly. Each participating team has up to 28 competitors on their game-day roster and will compete in six events during the meet, which includes Compulsory, Acro, Pyramid, Toss, Tumbling, and Team Event. Teams will receive a score based on starting difficulty values and execution, and during competition each team can earn a score of up to 300 points. The team with the highest overall score is the deemed winner of the match.
The sport, which is governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA), is currently sponsored by 17 NCAA Division II institutions, including three in the state of South Carolina. Competition will take place between February and April, with each team allowed to compete in a minimum of six contests and a maximum of 14. The NCATA National Championships are held annually in April on an NCATA member campus with event and team championships.
Nationally, over nine million young women participate in the acrobatic and tumbling skill sets through their participation in gymnastics and competitive cheerleading. This number will only continue to grow as the sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling is one of the fastest-growing sports at the collegiate level.
About Coker College
Coker College is a student-focused, comprehensive college with a strong liberal arts core located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond.
Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor's and master's degree-granting institution and competes in 24 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is included among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as a "Best Bang for Your Buck" college in the southeast.