By Alina Rezepova, Staff Writer
More recently, the Saint Leo University Women’s Acrobatics & Tumbling team has done something that previously seemed almost impossible. At the competition, the athletes received a perfect score of 10.0 for Pyramid One (the inversion pyramid), an achievement that became one of the most memorable moments of the season for Saint Leo athletes.
The pyramid in acrobatics and tumbling is one of the most difficult elements. To perform this trick, several athletes rely only on each other. Each participant involved in the pyramid must perform their part perfectly; otherwise, the team may lose points.
“When I saw the 10.0, I was in complete shock. It was only my second time ever competing in that skill, so it was not something I expected at all,” said Angelique Cauterucci, a sophomore, majoring in the 3+1 MBA Marketing Program.
The acrobatics and tumbling team at Saint Leo University had never achieved a perfect 10 in Pyramid One (the inversion pyramid) before.
“What made it even more surreal is that Saint Leo has never scored a perfect 10 in that event before. Knowing I was part of a moment that made history for our program was overwhelming in the best way possible,” said Cauterucci.
After the judges announced the result, the wild applause and emotions of both the fans and the participants themselves literally exploded. The team instantly realized that they had become part of an important achievement for the university.
“The energy was unreal. Everyone was screaming, hugging, and celebrating, not just for the score, but for what it represented,” added Cauterucci.
This acrobatic element is so complex that its successful execution is impossible without building proper communication in the team. Before going to the mat, athletes usually get together to focus and support each other.
“On the mat, we constantly use key words to keep each other sharp: ‘Be tight,’ ‘Do not move your foot,’ ‘Catch high.’ Those quick reminders are everything because even the smallest detail can impact our overall score,” said Cauterucci.
This result is of great importance for the entire Saint Leo team season. Now the program is gradually rising in the national ranking and is competing for a place in the main competitions.
“This perfect 10 is huge for our season. Only two schools have scored a perfect 10 in Pyramid One (the inversion pyramid), us and Baylor University,” said Cauterucci.
According to the Saint Leo Athletics website, at the time of the performance, the Saint Leo team was ranked 11th in the national ranking, but strong results this season are helping the program gradually climb up.
The team’s goal is to get into the top 8 and qualify for the NCAA Acrobatics & Tumbling National Championships in Los Angeles. If this happens, it will be another historic milestone for the university.
