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#15 Duquesne Acro & Tumbling Builds Excitement As Tournament Debut Fast Approaches

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Photo credit: Pittsburgh Sports Now/Zachary Weiss

Freshmen top/tumbler Abby Eberle took a look around an otherwise empty UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, a smile slowly forming across her face, with the understanding that come Friday evening, the first ever Duquesne Acrobatics & Tumbling meet will take place on that very same floor.

A project first announced by an April 19, 2022, press releasing revealing the addition of acro & tumbling as well as golf and triathlon, becomes a reality as #3 Gannon comes to the Coop.

If any reminder even had to be given, both head coach Michaela Soper and assistant Nikki Pizzi take turns writing how many practices are left until Friday’s opener.

“It’s really a surreal feeling, we’ve been counting down the days we’re really excited for our first meet,” Eberle reflected. “The feeling of standing here and looking around knowing that I’m going to be here soon is crazy. It’s really cool.”

Soper’s background started with a gymnastics background, aspiring to be a collegiate gymnast, but instead her path got redirected due to a career-ending injury. Instead, she was contacted by a coach seeking to start an acro & tumbling program, she was encouraged to take an official visit, ultimately landing a spot on a team and earning a scholarship.

This changed her entire trajectory and in those four years competing in base, back, top and tumbler at Gannon, her life changed.

She became an assistant coach at Limestone in 2018, prior to that program’s inaugural season and by summer 2019, she became head coach.

Limestone earned its highest NCATA rank in program history, fifth in 2021 and maintained the sixth position in the two following seasons.

Soper was named Duquesne’s first coach May 11, 2023, and brought Pizzi, her collegiate teammate to join in this venture.

This journey, setting the Dukes base and identity has seen Soper reach out to each discipline to build a rounded roster. A glance at Duquesne’s roster sees ladies who have artistic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, power tumbling and competitive cheerleading backgrounds.

It sets for a competitive base that can set the foundation and build and fill accordingly for the next few years to find that establishment within the program.

As is, the roster sits at 33 and there has certainly been a learning curve attached.

“We’re literally making history every day,” explained Soper. “I was part of the second year of the program so watching it progress to what it is now, they’ve been top two in the country for two years. They’re a really incredible program so have a competitor like that start our season is incredible. That’s what we’re doing and hoping to accomplish here in the near future.”

 

 

Eberle is one of the 33 on the roster and came with 13 years of experience in cheerleading. She knew she desired athletics in college and this opportunity was one to grab.

She had heard a bit about the sport but was unsure of what it truly was but knew that it combined elements she had and could grow in a sport which was doing the exact same.

Eberle is from Freeport, which is approximately 30 minutes away from the fieldhouse and she beamed knowing that Duquesne is part of her everyday life.

“Looking at colleges, I knew that I wanted to stay local, and so to have the opportunity to continue athletics here in my hometown is really special,” she assessed. “I know a lot of people from my hometown are coming to watch and I can’t wait to show them what we’re doing.”

Of the 33 on the roster, just two in graduate student Abby McDermott and sophomore Alia Ellis are not freshmen.

Assessing the group, Soper understands that the energy is ecstatic, while also being nervous. Still, there is hope that the enjoyment and love each has for this sport can show come Friday.

“They know they’re a part of history,” deduced Soper. “When you’re young, you can’t understand and grasp the impact you’re making it. One of the reasons I stick with it was by the time I became a senior I fully understood what we were trying to do here as young women creating a new sport pioneering something that hasn’t been done before.”

Already Duquesne has received recognition, becoming the second-ever first-year program to receive a preseason ranking, placing 15th with upwards of 56 teams competing, 13 of which are Division I institutions.

Eberle’s interview with assembled media came an hour after the announcement and she revealed that the entire team was celebrating together in its dorms upon receiving the news. She was happy to celebrate an accomplishment, but that this only drove the team to work harder to earn more.

Soper praised the preseason efforts her team has demonstrated thus far but also made it clear that accolades have to be earned. The ranking shows the respect peers have given them and she hopes it is used as momentum.

Last Friday, Soper ramped up practice to prepare the meet as it the time was fully dedicated to the team event routine. After a few run throughs, everyone huddled around the television, encouraged to be brutally honest about their performance. Some were unafraid to do so, while others high fived each other for their efforts.

When practice ended early, Soper explained that the gym was still theirs and anyone who wanted to stay and work had the opportunity to do so. Everyone who did not have a class did just that, a testament to the investment each has in this program.

Admission for Friday’s meet, which will occur at 6 p.m. is free for all, but there is encouragement for all of the athletics teams to attend and show their support.

Soper believes the investment has been unmatched thus far with so many learning and getting educated on the sport. Part of the encouragement comes from not just showcasing support but also learning what exactly the support truly is.

“It’s really special to me,” concluded Eberle. “As someone who never really had that (support) in cheerleading, it’s really special to have that support here. School wide, everyone is coming to support us. I’ve had people in my classes, other student-athletes reaching out for when our meets are, what the sport is and it’s really nice to know people are interested in what we’re doing and we’re growing as a team and school together.”

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Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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