Bridgeport, W.Va. -- The Mountain East Conference announced today that Kutztown University has accepted an invitation to associate membership in the MEC for the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling after receiving unanimous support from the MEC Board of Directors.
"The MEC is very pleased to expand competitive opportunities in Acrobatics & Tumbling with the addition of Kutztown University as an associate member," MEC Commissioner Reid Amos said. "Considering the MEC's geographic footprint and the nature of scheduling in this sport, this was a natural fit. Our league was the first in any division to sponsor an Acrobatics & Tumbling conference championship, which continues to be a source of pride for us. We appreciate the opportunity to support the growth and stability of this emerging sport as it continues to pursue becoming an NCAA championship sport."
Located 18 miles southwest of Allentown in south-central Pennsylvania, Kutztown University is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) with more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled. Kutztown’s athletic teams, known as the Golden Bears, are members of the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The PSAC does not sponsor the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling.
The Kutztown Acrobatics & Tumbling program is no stranger to the Mountain East Conference as head coach Karah Paull was the 2019 MEC Acrobatics & Tumbling Athlete of the Year as a senior All-American at Fairmont State. In her three years as head coach, the Golden Bears have finished .500 or better all three years. Kutztown's 5-Element Acro group earned a spot in the NCATA National Event Finals last spring
“Kutztown University is excited to join the Mountain East Conference as an associate member,” said Director of Athletics Renee Hellert. “The benefits to our Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes are abundant, and we are excited for the possibility to enrich our student-athlete experience by providing consistent scheduling, postseason competition, and athletic and academic awards and honors.”
The Golden Bears will join the five full-time MEC members with established Acrobatics & Tumbling programs – Fairmont State University, Frostburg State University, Glenville State University, West Liberty University and West Virginia State University – along with Wheeling University, which is adding the sport for the 2025 season.
The 2025 MEC Acrobatics & Tumbling Championships will be held at the site of the highest team seed following a round-robin regular season schedule – achieved through duals and tri-meets – against all MEC members, as scheduled by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA). The top four teams and event qualifiers advance to the MEC Championships. Kutztown will be included in the MEC's round-robin schedule in 2025. As an associate member of the MEC, the Golden Bears will be eligible to compete for team and individual championships, weekly and All-Conference recognition, along with academic honors.
Founded in 2013, the Mountain East Conference has established itself as one of the top all-sports conferences in the country in NCAA Division II. In just 11 years, MEC institutions have produced six NCAA Division II champions and have competed in 13 NCAA Championship games. In addition to the athletic success, the MEC recognizes over 2,500 student-athletes annually for their academic success. Ten MEC student-athletes have been recognized as "NCAA Elite 90" winners, which honors the individual with the highest cumulative grade-point average at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
About the Mountain East Conference
The Mountain East Conference features 11 NCAA Division II member colleges and universities located in three states. The league sponsors 23 championship sports. MEC teams have won six NCAA team national championships, have played in 13 NCAA Championship games, and claimed 47 regional championships. MEC student-athletes also excel in the classroom, with 2,500 earning academic recognition in 2023-24. The league has also produced ten Elite 90 award winners, recognizing the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average who has reached the site of the finals for each of the NCAA's 90 men's and women's championships across its three divisions. The Mountain East Conference is headquartered in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Visit mountaineast.org to learn more.
About Kutztown University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, a member of the State System of Higher Education, was founded in 1866 as Keystone State Normal School, became Kutztown State Teachers College in 1928, Kutztown State College in 1960, and achieved university status in 1983. Today, Kutztown University is a modern, comprehensive institution and has an enrollment around 7,427. Kutztown has 130 undergraduate programs in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, Business, and Education. There are also 31 graduate areas of study, including two doctoral programs. An honors program, study abroad, internships, student/faculty research and experiential learning communities round out the academic experience. Visit kutztown.edu to learn more.