GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Acrobatics & Tumbling team opened the 2024 season with a win over West Liberty earlier today in the Waco Center. WLU, a squad who the Pioneers were picked to tie with in the MEC Preseason Poll, finished with a total of 264.740 while GSU totaled a new program-high 265.915 points. 

The Pioneers and Hilltoppers battled it out all night, staying neck and neck through each event. WLU started the day off with a 37.550 in the Compulsory Event while the Pioneers tallied a score of 36.250. In the Acro Event, GSU took the event by.250, scoring 28.250 to the Hilltoppers' 28.000. Glenville State then took the Pyramid Event as well with a score of 28.650 compared to West Liberty's 28.250. At half, WLU led 93.900-93.150. 

After the break, GSU carried that momentum into the Toss Event, inching even closer to the Hilltoppers in the running total by scoring 27.550. WLU scored 27.000, allowing the Pioneers to trail by just .200. West Liberty made some of that ground back up in the Tumbling Event, outscoring GSU 51.400-51.025 to go into the Team Event up 172.300-171.725. The Hilltoppers ended the Team Event with 92.440 and the Pioneers topped that with 94.190, putting the blue and white past WLU in the final meet total.  

GSU was able to avenge last year's .600 loss to West Liberty and open the new season with a conference win. 

Up Next For The Pioneers 
The Pioneers are back on the mat next Sunday (Feb. 11), squaring off with Fairmont State on the road at 1 p.m.