The second season for the Morgan State Acrobatics and Tumbling team just got started. However, it is now the time that the team is getting the attention of everyone across the country.
Despite being 0-4 to this point in the season, the Morgan State Acrobatics and tumbling team has peaked national interest going viral on multiple social media platforms.
Head coach Regina Smith believes that the attention is overdue for them.
‘’Women have been the backbones of families and leadership and I am honored to be in the position and in this journey that God has given us.’’ said Smith.
The Bears traveled to Eugne, Oregon to take on No.4 ranked Oregon on Feb. 15, marking the first time the team ever traveled to the West Coast to compete.
The team fell to Oregon, 281.565 to 256.605, falling to 0-3 for the season. However, it wasn’t the score that caught the country’s attention.
It was a special sequence called the split that was performed by Lauren Perkins and Rayla Buckner, the split not only showed both of their strength, balance, and control, it also showed their trust within each other to execute the move.
The split was posted on Morgan’s acrobatic Instagram account and ESPN reposted it on their platforms. The post went viral Hitting 1 million likes and over 56,000 shares on the social media app TikTok.
‘’It was mind blowing, I was trying to figure out why I was getting so many followers. When we saw ESPN posting us, we started losing our minds.’’ said Rayla Buckner, the sophomore top/tumbler and co-contributor of the split.
‘’I was surprised we were the ones to go viral and make it. I was super excited and pleased to see how the video turned out.’’ said Lauren Perkins, the freshman base who was also a part of the amazing sequence.
Many members on the team are surprised about the attention that they’re getting. But others on the team believe that it’s their moment now.
‘’It feels well-deserved. I can personally say that before this came about, we said that we will be the number one team for Morgan State athletics and no one believed us.’’ said A’Lycia Moore, a junior utility member on the team.
The Lady Bears’ season began where they already faced off against top ranked teams in the sport. On Feb. 2, they faced off against the No. 2 ranked team in the nation, Quinnipiac University.
Although The Bears lost 270.565 to 246.745, the team was praised for their dedication and poise going into season number two and taking on the nations top competition.
Morgan’s newest sport is back in action Sunday, March 3 their second home match of the season against Presbyterian College.
