FormerbrDragon and Lady Bear, Kelci Ortiz, has a big reason to jump for joy: She's abrback-to-back national champion in acrobatics and tumbling (A&T), and shebrjust graduated from Baylor University to boot.
Ortizbrquickly soared to new heights as a member of Baylor's A&T team, althoughbrshe didn’t immediately grasp the time commitment and dedication necessary to excelbrat the sport. A&T combines gymnastics and competitive cheer where thebrathletes compete in individual and team events.
“I knewbrI was going into a collegiate sport, but I didn't understand the dedication ofbrboth time and the physicality of the sport,” says Ortiz.
Over thebrcourse of a season, Baylor competes in 10 meets over the country. The top teamsbrgo to Nationals, and over the course of four days, compete in quarterfinals andbrsemifinals. The last two teams compete for the title of National Champions.brEvent finals also take place where individual events are held at Nationals. Ortizbrcompeted in two of the Event Finals and won both for a record four Nationalbrtitles.
For thebrpast two years, Baylor and rival Oregon have gone head to head in the finals.brLike last year, Baylor beat Oregon in the finals to win a second consecutivebrchampionship.
CoachbrFelecia Mulkey and her coaching staff have developed the A&T team into abrnational powerhouse where more than 35 lady athletes take their skill set intobra sport that is gaining national attention.
“I can'tbrbelieve it's over,” says Ortiz. “These four years have flown by. I want tobrthank Baylor University for all they've done for me. It's been an honor tobrattend the university. I will always be a Baylor Bear!”