Posted: Apr 11, 2024
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas released the 2024 acrobatics & tumbling all-conference teams before the 2024 Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship semifinals.
Kacie Kier of Limestone was selected Conference Carolinas Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Kier has competed in 10 heats plus the team event for the Saints this season. She helped the Saints score a perfect 10.00 in the open pyramid and she scored a 9.975 in the aerial tumbling pass. The sophomore was a member of 30 Limestone scores of 9.50 or higher this season and helped the Saints score a program-record 274.020 against West Liberty. In that meet she registered six scores of at lead 9.50 and the Saints' highest team event score of 97.27. The Elgin, South Carolina, native was honored throughout the season as Conference Carolinas Athlete of the Week and Honorable Mention Athlete of the Week from the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA).
Also, a repeat winner, Belmont Abbey's Erena Chaples garnered Specialist of the Year for the second straight season. The senior competed as a top and a tumbler for the Crusaders as she averaged 9.66 in two different pyramid heats. She also competed as a top in the 7-element acro, an event that averaged 9.52 this season. The Independence, Missouri was named Conference Carolinas Specialist of the Week and NCATA Specialist of the Week this season for her pyramid heats.
Madison Seymour of Converse was recognized as the Freshman of the Year. In her first year on campus, Seymour competed in eight heats for the Valkyries. She was a member of the inversion pyramid that scored a season-best 9.75 out of 9.80 and helped the tumbling trio pass scored a season-high 8.200 out of 8.75. The Lockport, Illinois native also helped the Valkyries scored a season-best in the 5 element acro with a score of 8.70 out of 8.90. She competed in three compulsory heats, one acro heat, two pyramid heats, and one tumbling heat.
In her first year as the head coach at Emmanuel, Ceara Gray was tabbed Coach of the Year. Gray led the Lions to a 5-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in Conference Carolinas meets. The Lions qualified for the Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship for the first time and narrowly fell at Lander in the quarterfinals.
Athlete of the Year
Kacie Kier, Limestone
Specialist of the Year
Erena Chaples, Belmont Abbey
Freshman of the Year
Madison Seymour, Converse
Coach of the Year
Ceara Gray, Emmanuel
First Team
Kacie Kier, Limestone
Cameron King, Limestone
Ryann Swope, Lander
Erena Chaples, Belmont Abbey
Bridget Sweeney, King
Ayanna Manning, Converse
Kayla Young, Coker
Avery Marquis, Lander
Tori Chambers, Mars Hill
Rylee Rossman, Limestone
Madeline Robison, King
Lelia Brozowski Coker
Isa Cunningham, Emmanuel
Ceanna Brown, Converse
Janai Brown, Limestone
Kaylin Francavilla, Coker
Second Team
Kylie Brophy, Belmont Abbey
Priscilla Vega, Francis Marion
Emily St. Onge, Limestone
Susannah Balderstone, Limestone
Madison Smith, Emmanuel
Taryn Laurence, Lander
Gracie Grady, Belmont Abbey
Nia Jackson, Converse
Jocelyn Wente, Mars Hill
Chloe Cleland, Converse
Krissa Gaines, Converse
Christina Bapple, Emmanuel
Hanna Helms, Coker
Amanda Schnelker, Limestone
Lindsey Swanger, Converse
Amber Garcia, Coker
Kacie Kier of Limestone was selected Conference Carolinas Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Kier has competed in 10 heats plus the team event for the Saints this season. She helped the Saints score a perfect 10.00 in the open pyramid and she scored a 9.975 in the aerial tumbling pass. The sophomore was a member of 30 Limestone scores of 9.50 or higher this season and helped the Saints score a program-record 274.020 against West Liberty. In that meet she registered six scores of at lead 9.50 and the Saints' highest team event score of 97.27. The Elgin, South Carolina, native was honored throughout the season as Conference Carolinas Athlete of the Week and Honorable Mention Athlete of the Week from the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA).
Also, a repeat winner, Belmont Abbey's Erena Chaples garnered Specialist of the Year for the second straight season. The senior competed as a top and a tumbler for the Crusaders as she averaged 9.66 in two different pyramid heats. She also competed as a top in the 7-element acro, an event that averaged 9.52 this season. The Independence, Missouri was named Conference Carolinas Specialist of the Week and NCATA Specialist of the Week this season for her pyramid heats.
Madison Seymour of Converse was recognized as the Freshman of the Year. In her first year on campus, Seymour competed in eight heats for the Valkyries. She was a member of the inversion pyramid that scored a season-best 9.75 out of 9.80 and helped the tumbling trio pass scored a season-high 8.200 out of 8.75. The Lockport, Illinois native also helped the Valkyries scored a season-best in the 5 element acro with a score of 8.70 out of 8.90. She competed in three compulsory heats, one acro heat, two pyramid heats, and one tumbling heat.
In her first year as the head coach at Emmanuel, Ceara Gray was tabbed Coach of the Year. Gray led the Lions to a 5-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in Conference Carolinas meets. The Lions qualified for the Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship for the first time and narrowly fell at Lander in the quarterfinals.
Athlete of the Year
Kacie Kier, Limestone
Specialist of the Year
Erena Chaples, Belmont Abbey
Freshman of the Year
Madison Seymour, Converse
Coach of the Year
Ceara Gray, Emmanuel
First Team
Kacie Kier, Limestone
Cameron King, Limestone
Ryann Swope, Lander
Erena Chaples, Belmont Abbey
Bridget Sweeney, King
Ayanna Manning, Converse
Kayla Young, Coker
Avery Marquis, Lander
Tori Chambers, Mars Hill
Rylee Rossman, Limestone
Madeline Robison, King
Lelia Brozowski Coker
Isa Cunningham, Emmanuel
Ceanna Brown, Converse
Janai Brown, Limestone
Kaylin Francavilla, Coker
Second Team
Kylie Brophy, Belmont Abbey
Priscilla Vega, Francis Marion
Emily St. Onge, Limestone
Susannah Balderstone, Limestone
Madison Smith, Emmanuel
Taryn Laurence, Lander
Gracie Grady, Belmont Abbey
Nia Jackson, Converse
Jocelyn Wente, Mars Hill
Chloe Cleland, Converse
Krissa Gaines, Converse
Christina Bapple, Emmanuel
Hanna Helms, Coker
Amanda Schnelker, Limestone
Lindsey Swanger, Converse
Amber Garcia, Coker