The National Acrobatics and Tumbling Association released its initial set of Championship Rankings, which will determine the eight teams selected for the 2025 National Championships, on March 26.
No. 2 Oregon (5-1) rose from fourth in preseason polling to second overall. Here’s a look into the biggest winners and losers from the initial set of rankings, plus a look at those on the bubble. Rankings are accurate as of April 2, 2025.
Biggest winners: No. 2 Oregon, No. 4 Augustana University, No. 5 Fairmont State University
Oregon has won all but one meet so far this season — a loss at home to Baylor University — and will feel secure in the No. 2 spot ahead of a rematch with the Bears on April 5. Plus, with that seed, the Ducks wouldn’t meet the Bears in the postseason until the final round.
Augustana, meanwhile, rose from No. 11 overall in the preseason coaches’ poll to No. 4 in the initial championship poll. The Vikings (5-0) have strong wins over three preseason-ranked teams: No. 3 Gannon University, No. 7 Azusa Pacific University and No. 12 Hawaii Pacific University. Those three now sit No. 11, No. 9 and unranked, respectively, in the poll. Augustana is undefeated before its regular season finale against Missouri State University and should secure a postseason spot.
Fairmont State (7-1) has just two ranked victories — and none in the top 10 — but still sits at No. 5 in the rankings. The Fighting Falcons beat No. 11 Gannon and No. 13 Glenville State University, but suffered a loss to No. 9 Azusa Pacific on March 19 and have no ranked matchups remaining on their schedule. They’re a winner because they’re in a postseason slot — for now.
Biggest losers: No. 11 Gannon, No. 7 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
No. 11 Gannon (3-4) is undoubtedly the program that suffered the most between the preseason poll and midseason rankings. The Knights were picked third in preseason after a run to the 2024 NCATA Championship final, but they lost key contributors in the offseason and dropped meets to No. 2, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 12. They’ll likely finish ranked, but are a world away from a championship berth.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-3) currently has its hands on a postseason spot, but dropped two spots from No. 5 to No. 7 in the first poll. The Cru have had their chances, but didn’t look competitive in 19.175 and 20.905-point losses to Oregon and Baylor, respectively. They had a shot at No. 6 Iona University, too, but dropped a heartbreaker to the Gaels by just 0.130 points on March 19. They now face a first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed instead of the No. 4 seed.
On the bubble:
Mary Hardin-Baylor and No. 8 Limestone University (10-1) currently sit as the final two teams in for the NCATA Championships. The Saints have no wins ranked higher than over No. 13, and have a loss to No. 3 Quinnipiac University.
The Cru tally one regular-season meet left, but it’s against DIII Texas Lutheran University. Limestone will compete in the Conference Carolinas Championship, but have no regular-season meets left.
On the outside looking in are No. 9 Azusa Pacific (3-3) and No. 10 Saint Leo University (4-2). Azusa Pacific has just one ranked win and no regular-season meets remaining, so the Cougars are likely out. Saint Leo faces only unranked duo University of Montevallo and Talladega College before the season ends, and is also unlikely to jump into the top eight without help elsewhere.
The NCATA will release two further sets of rankings, on April 2 and April 9, before the final field is revealed on April 14. The 2025 NCATA Championships are scheduled for April 24-27 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
