Oregon acrobatics and tumbling defeats No. 9 Gannon with season-high performance

The Ducks bounce back from their first loss of the season with a strong showing in six-element acro and solo passes.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling (3-1) defeated No. 9 Gannon (3-2) in a top-10 matchup, rebounding from their first loss of the season. The Ducks had a season-high performance in six-element acro and standout solo passes to secure the victory, showcasing the depth and growth of the team.

Why it matters

This win demonstrates that Oregon has the potential to be a national championship-caliber team, even though they still need to prove it by beating the top-ranked Baylor squad. The Ducks' improvement in their problem areas, like six-element acro, and the emergence of new stars like Nya Womack, show this team is building towards a title run.

The details

After trailing Gannon after the compulsory events, Oregon bounced back with a 9.700 in six-element acro, a major improvement from their early-season struggles in the event. Sophomore standouts Morgan Willingham and Briya Alvarado also had career-high performances in tumbling to power the Ducks' victory. Head coach Taylor Susnara praised the team's depth and culture, noting the 'friendly competition' that pushes each athlete to perform at their best.

  • Oregon faced No. 9 Gannon on March 7, 2026.
  • The Ducks' next meet is against No. 4 Iona on March 15, 2026.

The players

Taylor Susnara

The head coach of the Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team, who has built a strong culture and depth within the program.

Nya Womack

A true freshman on the Oregon team who has been a revelation, scoring a career-high 9.875 in her quad-whip aerial pass against Gannon.

Morgan Willingham

A sophomore on the Oregon team who had a career-high 9.925 in the six-element pass against Gannon.

Briya Alvarado

A sophomore on the Oregon team who scored a 9.825 in the open pass against Gannon.

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What they’re saying

“That was amazing. (I'm) so happy with Acro 6.”

— Taylor Susnara, Head Coach (dailyemerald.com)

“It's not an easy road, you know, every team is different, and when I came in as a head coach, I thought, 'Oh, this will be easy.' And then it actually was much harder than I had anticipated, but well worth it. And I think just, you know, in families, we have highs, we have lows, and there's sometimes adversity, but it matters how we come together at the end of that, and I think this team and our program in the last few years has really done a good job of building each other up rather than tearing each other down.”

— Taylor Susnara, Head Coach (dailyemerald.com)

What’s next

Oregon faces No. 4 Iona on March 15, 2026, which could be their best chance to put together a championship-caliber meet before facing No. 1 Baylor on April 6.

The takeaway

Oregon's win over Gannon demonstrates that the Ducks have the potential to be a national championship contender, with improvements in their problem areas and the emergence of new stars. However, they still need to prove they can beat the top teams, starting with a showdown against No. 1 Baylor next month.