BRIDGEPORT — The Mountain East Conference announced today that Kutztown University has accepted an invitation to associate membership in the MEC for the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling after receiving unanimous support from the MEC Board of Directors.
 
“The MEC is very pleased to expand competitive opportunities in Acrobatics & Tumbling with the addition of Kutztown University as an associate member,” MEC Commissioner Reid Amos said. “Considering the MEC’s geographic footprint and the nature of scheduling in this sport, this was a natural fit. Our league was the first in any division to sponsor an Acrobatics & Tumbling conference championship, which continues to be a source of pride for us. We appreciate the opportunity to support the growth and stability of this emerging sport as it continues to pursue becoming an NCAA championship sport.”
 
Located 18 miles southwest of Allentown in south-central Pennsylvania, Kutztown University is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) with more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled. Kutztown’s athletic teams, known as the Golden Bears, are members of the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The PSAC does not sponsor the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling.
 
The Kutztown Acrobatics & Tumbling program is no stranger to the Mountain East Conference as head coach Karah Paull was the 2019 MEC Acrobatics & Tumbling Athlete of the Year as a senior All-American at Fairmont State. In her three years as head coach, the Golden Bears have finished .500 or better all three years. Kutztown’s 5-Element Acro group earned a spot in the NCATA National Event Finals last spring
 
“Kutztown University is excited to join the Mountain East Conference as an associate member,” said Director of Athletics Renee Hellert. “The benefits to our Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes are abundant, and we are excited for the possibility to enrich our student-athlete experience by providing consistent scheduling, postseason competition, and athletic and academic awards and honors.”
 
The Golden Bears will join the five full-time MEC members with established Acrobatics & Tumbling programs – Fairmont State University, Frostburg State University, Glenville State University, West Liberty University and West Virginia State University – along with Wheeling University, which is adding the sport for the 2025 season.
 
The 2025 MEC Acrobatics & Tumbling Championships will be held at the site of the highest team seed following a round-robin regular season schedule – achieved through duals and tri-meets – against all MEC members, as scheduled by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA). The top four teams and event qualifiers advance to the MEC Championships. Kutztown will be included in the MEC’s round-robin schedule in 2025. As an associate member of the MEC, the Golden Bears will be eligible to compete for team and individual championships, weekly and All-Conference recognition, along with academic honors.