A brilliant achievement for a proud team and a quick ascent to the elite level for two of Gannon University’s newest athletic teams are among the biggest stories of the spring season.
The Gannon softball team recorded their first regular season PSAC West title in the University’s nine-year conference history. The team, which was picked to finish last in the division in a preseason poll, advanced to the PSAC tournament in early May.
In only the second year of competition, competitive cheer teams recorded top-five finishes at the finals of the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, in April. The co-ed team finished fourth while the all-girl team finished fifth, finishes that either tied or set new program bests.
Gannon acrobatics and tumbling advanced to the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships for the third time in the program’s four-year history. Gannon received the No. 7 seed squad at the Elite Eight for the second time in three trips.
Gannon softball coach Tom Jakubowski recorded his 200th career victory at Gannon. The win came in fine style as Jen Moran hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game of a doubleheader on March 29 against Lake Erie College.
Gannon women’s golf team is on pace to receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. At press time, the team was ranked 11th in the latest NCAA Division II East regional rankings. Twelve teams from each of the four regions across the country will be invited to participate in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Gannon won six of nine events during the 2016-17 season, including a first-place finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. The Lady Knights also captured five team titles.
To keep up with the latest news on all Gannon athletic teams, visit gannonsports.com.