The recognition came rolling in early for No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling after its season-opening win over Missouri State University on Feb. 8. The Ducks began their 2026 charge for the NCATA title with a comfortable victory over the Bears and several standout performances. They’re now in the national spotlight.

Base Blessyn McMorris, one of the Ducks’ most decorated athletes, was named the NCATA’s Specialist of the Week. McMorris played a crucial role in the Ducks pyramid event, including a 9.95 score in the open pyramid. She’s one of the most experienced athletes on Oregon’s roster as the only listed graduate student-athlete, and a 2025 NCATA All American.

She’s Oregon’s first winner in the category since Makenna Carrion took it home in 2024 — also after the Ducks put together a standout pyramid event against Hawaii Pacific University. McMorris adds the weekly honor to her 2022 Freshman of the Year and 2025 Athlete of the Week wins.

Don’t worry: No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling is still elite.

The Ducks put together a comprehensive win in Missouri on Saturday to open their season. Here’s three things to notice (and why):https://t.co/nAICwiT1zp

— Owen Murray (@OwenMurraySEA) February 9, 2026

The pyramid event paid off for Selah Bell, too, who finished as an honorable mention in the Athlete of the Week category. Bell was the top in the Ducks’ standout open pyramid, but shone throughout. Earlier in the pyramid event, she helped Oregon to a 9.85 in the synchronized heat — the Ducks scored higher than that just once in 2025.

Oregon has one Athlete of the Week win from each of its past three seasons — McMorris (2025), Cami Wilson (2024) and Karly Nowak (2023). Bell has an individual event title from the open pyramid last year, but the junior top/tumbler doesn’t yet have a weekly award to her name. Baylor University’s Payton Washington won the overall award.

It took some time for No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling to find its groove — three events, in fact. Once it settled in, though, the machine wasn’t stopping in the Ducks’ 267.325-242.880 victory over Missouri State University.

Gamer, for @DailyEmerald:https://t.co/jEWdRd8Ek8

— Owen Murray (@OwenMurraySEA) February 8, 2026

Freshman Nyla Lassiter took home an honorable mention in the Freshman of the Week category. The base/tumbler from Burlington, New Jersey stepped in in multiple spots, including as a member of the Ducks’ stacked compulsory tumbling event (which includes eight athletes), and helped power Oregon to its opening-week win. She has a cheer background, including four National Cheerleaders Association championships, and the Ducks have a history of pushing freshmen to the forefront.

Base Angelica Martin took home a Freshman of the Week win in 2025 alongside six honorable mentions in the category, and Oregon rosters three former winners of the weekly award (Martin, McMorris and base Bella Swarthout). Baylor’s Mo Arthur took the award in Week 1.

The Ducks are on home mat for the first time in 2026 on Feb. 21, when they’ll face No. 3 Quinnipiac University (1-0).