No, it's not the circus. Acrobatics and tumbling, a mashup of gymnastics and cheer, is booming

Duquesne's Michela Del Rosso (6) and Sienna Johnson (7) compete in the team's inaugural acrobatics and tumbling meet against Gannon University, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Cooper Fieldhouse on the Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh.

Duquesne's Michela Del Rosso (6) and Sienna Johnson (7) compete in the team's inaugural acrobatics and tumbling meet against Gannon University, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Cooper Fieldhouse on the Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


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PITTSBURGH — Acrobatics and tumbling is one of the NCAA's fastest-growing sports. Over 40 schools are fielding teams this season, more than triple the number that participated a decade ago. The discipline is a mixture of gymnastics and cheerleading, with teams competing against each other in a series of events, culminating in a full routine set to music. The low overhead cost and large rosters of female athletes make it attractive to interested schools. Many of the athletes are former gymnasts or cheerleaders who have turned to acro to extend their careers.

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