This spring, the BaylorbrBears won their first national title for acrobatics and tumbling (A&T), andbrCarroll grad, Kelci Ortiz (pictured second from left), was part of the team. Ortiz began tumbling at agebrfive, and at CarrollbrSenior High School, she competed on the NCA Cheer Team, was an All-AmericanbrCheerleader from 2009-2012, and was named the 2012 Varsity MVP. She was also a member of the varsity soccer team.
So what led Ortiz tobrBaylor's A&T team?
“I chose A&T mainlybrbecause I could have the best of both worlds,” she says. “There was a time inbrhigh school that I remember vividly having to choose one sport because it wasbrgetting to that point when I had to think about college. I remember saying tobrmyself: ‘Which one could I not live without?'”
A&T is the onlybrDivision 1 option for gymnastics skill sets in the state. It was created sixbryears ago to give women the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level asbrpart of a true varsity sport. The hope of the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association is to continue to add schools. With each school, therebrwill be 40 new opportunities for women to compete at the collegiate level.
For Ortiz, A&T is thebrperfect sport for her passion and talents. It combines the tumbling andbrstunting from cheer with the athletic component of soccer.
“It's physicallybrexhausting and requires a concrete mindset. You have to be very dedicated, andbrhard work is a requirement,” she says. “But I enjoy the fact that I get to wakebrup every day and do something that I love.”
Baylorbrwas one of the first universities in the country to start the sport of A&T,brand it fielded its first team in 2011. The program had not had a winning seasonbruntil this year.
FeleciabrMulkey, Baylor's Head Coach for A&T, says she knew this year's team had abrlong way to go – but she also knew they were ready to work.
“The journey to the National Championship was one ofbrsmall victories throughout the year – not just athletically but mentally,”brMulkey says. “The team had to decide that they were worthy of a championship. Theybrhad to believe in themselves. By the end of the season, theybrbelieved. I always talk about peaking at the right time, and this teambrpeaked at the national tournament.”
Mulkey is optimisticbrabout what the future holds for the Baylor Bears A&T team – and for Ortiz.
“Kelci is the ultimatebrteam player – always willing to do or say what she needs to in order to bringbrout the best in her teammates,” she says. “I'm excited because she is a verybrtalented athlete.”