Reghan Mollohan Reflects on Fairmont State’s Acrobatics and Tumbling Historic Success
The Fairmont State University Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) squad is a force to be reckoned with in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) and across the country. The A&T female athletes at Fairmont State have won each MEC Championship since the addition of the sport to the conference in 2019. The FSU Acrobatics and Tumbling team qualified for the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) Nationals last season in April, which was held at the University of Oregon. Most recently, the Fighting Falcons lined up at #7 in the nation by the NCATA for the first week of its’ 2023 Championship Rankings on March 29, 2023.
Acrobatics and Tumbling is currently an NCATA sport but is now considered a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) emerging sport. Fairmont State University was one of the founding schools of the sport in 2010, in addition to Azusa Pacific University, Baylor University, University of Maryland, University of Oregon, and Quinnipiac University. According to the NCATA, “Acrobatics & Tumbling is the evolution of different forms of gymnastics. The sport involves tumbling, tosses, acrobatic lifts, and pyramids.”
A&T student-athlete, Reghan Mollohan, knew that she wanted to be a part of the success that was at Fairmont State when deciding where to attend college to achieve her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Mollohan joined the Acrobatics and Tumbling team for her rookie season during the 2020-21 school year, where she found similarities between her love for competitive cheerleading and now acrobatics and tumbling at the collegiate level.
The Beckley, W. Va. native mentioned, “I chose to come to Fairmont State because it was close enough to home to visit, and I really wanted to be on a successful team, which Fairmont State was known for. I really enjoyed the environment too!”
Mollohan has earned many personal opportunities and awards on and off the mat. She was named a National Strength & Conditioning Association All-American for the 2021-22 year, in addition to the Female Iron Falcon at Fairmont State that same year. These two awards are given to student-athletes who represent themselves, their team, and their institution well on the playing field, in the weight room, and in the classroom.
In her Exercise Science studies, Mollohan has been recognized on the MEC and NCATA All-Academic Teams each year that she has competed for the Fighting Falcons. She is currently interning with Adam Kolberg in the Strength and Conditioning program at Fairmont State. In the weight room, she has had the opportunity to meet athletes on different teams and learn more about weightlifting and the training that goes with each respective sport at FSU.
Mollohan accounts for the success of the historic program but is up for another run during her senior season, “I feel as if this team has something to prove this year. Fairmont State A&T has always excelled, and this team wants to prove that we can meet that standard. We are hungry to win another MEC title and compete at [NCATA] Nationals again!”
Fairmont State’s Acrobatics and Tumbling team plans to look ahead to Mountain East Conference and National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association Championships towards the end of April. MEC competition will take place on April 14-15 at an awaited site, and NCATA Championships are set for April 27-30 in West Liberty, W. Va.
