No 1. A&T Sweeps NCATA Weekly Awards
2/18/2026 2:30:00 PM | Acrobatics & Tumbling
Bears secure freshman, athlete and specialist of the week honors
WACO, Texas – For the eighth time in program history, the Bears earn all three NCATA weekly awards.
Mo Arthur earned her second consecutive weekly honor from the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA), being named Freshman of the Week on Wednesday. She was joined by Payton Washington, who collected her second straight Athlete of the Week honor this season, and Leavy McDonald, who secured her first Specialist of the Week recognition of the year.
Arthur, a freshman mid-level and base from Owensville, Missouri, earned Freshman of the Week honors after competing in nine individual heats in addition to the team event, posting scores of 9.65 or higher in every heat.
Her performance was highlighted by a season-best and perfect 10.0 in the Compulsory Toss. Arthur now owns two perfect 10.0s this season, in the Compulsory Toss and Heat 1 Pyramid, underscoring her immediate impact and consistency as both a base and mid-level.
She opened the meet in Compulsory Acro, scoring a 9.70/10 as a base. In Compulsory Pyramid, she earned a 9.80/10 competing as a mid-level. Arthur also based in Compulsory Toss, helping secure the perfect 10.00 with elite timing, power and precision to earn her second perfect score of the season.
Arthur competed as a base in the 5-Element Acro heat, earning a 9.90/10. In Heat 1 Pyramid and Heat 2 Pyramid, she served as the sole mid-level, scoring 9.90/10 and 9.70/10, respectively. She then anchored the innovative slide-to-split 3-high pyramid in Heat 3, scoring a 9.85/10 as the main base. The newly introduced structure features two-man bases sliding into synchronized splits while supporting two additional levels above them, requiring exceptional strength, balance and coordination. Arthur executed the sequence with control and confidence.
She continued her strong showing in Toss, serving as a base in Heat 2 Toss (9.65 out of 9.90) before earning a 9.90/10 in Heat 3 Toss.
In the Team Event, Arthur performed an elite acro sequence, successfully executing five of the 30 required acro skills, each with a start value of 10, completing the performance with precision and control.
Washington earned her second Athlete of the Week honor after competing in nine individual heats in addition to the team event for the second consecutive meet, demonstrating exceptional difficulty and execution across all events.
She competed as the top in Compulsory Acro and Compulsory Toss, scoring 9.70/10 and a perfect 10.0, respectively, one of the meet's top highlights, showcasing elite body control, amplitude and execution. Washington also competed as one of eight tumblers in Compulsory Tumbling, contributing to a 9.20/10 team score.
In Optional Acro, Washington served as the top in the 7-Element heat, scoring 9.85/10. She performed the hand-to-foot sequence within the routine, which carried a raw start value of 10.7 before being capped at 10, demonstrating both high difficulty and composure.
She also topped Heat 2 Pyramid, earning 9.70/10.
Washington competed in Heat 2 Toss (9.65 out of 9.90) and Heat 3 Toss (9.90/10), while adding strong tumbling performances with a 9.40/10 in Heat 3 Tumbling (Quad) and 9.75/10 in Heat 6 Tumbling (Open).
In the Team Event, Washington executed three standing tumbling passes, two tosses (with start values of 9.9 and 10), three acro skills as a top (all start values of 10), topped a pyramid (start value of 10) and completed a synchronized running tumbling pass. Her performance reflected elite difficulty and execution throughout the routine.
Earning her first weekly honor of the season, McDonald delivered a powerful and technically demanding performance, competing in six individual heats in addition to the team event.
She opened the meet in Compulsory Acro with a 9.70/10 as a base and followed with a 9.80/10 in Compulsory Pyramid. McDonald helped secure the perfect 10.00 in the Compulsory Toss, anchoring the skill as a base with strength, timing and precise coordination.
McDonald earned a 9.85/10 in the 7-Element Acro, serving as the sole base for all seven elements. Though capped at a 10, the routine carried a raw start value of 10.7 due to its difficulty. She executed both hand-to-foot and hand-to-hand skills with two different tops, including extended-to-feet and extended one-foot variations, a rarely competed combination.
In Heat 2 Pyramid, she competed as a mid-level base, scoring 9.70/10. She also served as the main base in the slide-to-split 3-high pyramid in Heat 3, earning 9.85/10. The structure requires synchronized splits by two-man bases while supporting two additional levels above, demanding elite strength, balance and timing. McDonald executed the skill with control and consistency.
In the Team Event, McDonald performed five of the 30 required acro skills, each with a start value of 10, delivering the sequence with precision. She also based one toss, contributing to the overall difficulty and execution of the routine.
NEXT UP
The Bears host UMHB for their home opener meet on February 22 in Waco with a start time of 3 p.m. CT at the Ferrell Center. It will be our "Go Gold" meet featuring post-meet autographs.
To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor acrobatics & tumbling, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram: @BaylorAcroTumb.
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