ADRIAN, Mich. – The CUW acrobatics & tumbling team became the first program to secure a victory in the NCATA D3 Championships. The Falcons cruised with a season-high score in the 249.130 – 132.175 victory over Stevenson. The victory sends CUW to 6-1 on the season and sets up a championship battle against Adrian on Sunday for the first-ever D3 Championships.

CUW had a season-best score in four heats on Saturday.

The birds took an early lead with 34.20 points in the compulsory event. CUW scored 9.55 points in the pyramid heat and 9.40 points in the toss heat.

CUW broke the school record with 28.00 points in the acro event with three season-high scores.

The five-element heat with freshman Alexis Pfeifle (Macomb, Mich.), sophomore Amanda Owens (Stevens Point, Wis.), sophomore Eliana Schmit (Germantown, Wis.) and sophomore Erin Wagner (Waukesha, Wis.) scored 9.35 points and the six-element heat with sophomore Dakoda Spaeth (West Bend, Wis.), junior Jessi Alexander (Plainfield, Ill.) and junior Amy Eberth (Basehor, Kan.) secured 9.25 points. Concordia closed the event with 9.40 points with the team of sophomore Paityn Taormina (Geneva, Ill.), freshman Ellen Marie Sanders (Joppa, Md.), sophomore Morgan Schnulle (Janesville, Wis.), senior Kara Skevis (Lockport, Ill.) and sophomore April Johnston (Spokane, Wash.) in the seven-element heat.

The Falcons continued to extend the lead with 28.20 points in the pyramid event. CUW scored nine points or higher in all three heats, with the high-water mark of 9.60 points in the open pyramid.

Concordia tossed away the Mustangs in the toss event with 25.90 points. The open toss scored 9.25 points.

The Blue and White added to the lead in the tumbling event with 44.850 points. The open pass tied a season-high score with Paityn Taormina at 8.975 points.

CUW closed the show with 87.98 points in the team event.

The event finals are scheduled for 10:00 on Sunday morning and the championship match against Adrian is slated for a 5:30 start time.