HPU Officially Adds Acrobatics and Tumbling

REPORT FROM HPU – Hawai’i Pacific Athletics Director Darren Vorderbruegge has announced that HPU will add Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) as a varsity sport beginning in the 2013-2014 school year. Acrobatics and Tumbling is a blend of gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, and acrobatics.

A&T is in its infancy as a NCAA sport, being added in 2010-2011. Currently, Balyor, Fairmont State, Maryland, Quinnipiac, Oregon, and PacWest rival Azusa Pacific all sponsor A&T. Rather than have the schools compete in its traditional divisions (Division I, Division II, Division III), the schools will all compete against each other regardless of NCAA affiliation.An A&T meet lasts between one and a half to two hours and features six events. The first event is called Compulsory (40 points); it will be followed by Acro (30 points), Pyramid (30 points), Toss (30 points), Tumbling (60 points), and Team (110 points).The National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) is the national governing body for the sport of acrobatics and tumbling. The NCATA hold its championships in late April.

“We are pleased to institute Acrobatics and Tumbling into the Sea Warrior program of sports. There is a high level of interest here in Hawaii and across the nation in this emerging sport. We anticipate that the student athletics participating on this team will continue the Sea Warrior tradition of excelling in competition and performing at a high level academically,” said HPU president Dr. Geoffrey Bannister.

The addition of A&T gives HPU 14 NCAA varsity sports. HPU is continuing its rapid expansion; in 2006 HPU offered nine varsity sports.

HPU will continue to have its traditional cheer and dance teams.

HPU will hold live tryouts on the third weekend of April at Moanalua High School. Video auditions will also be accepted.

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