HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University was selected the number fourth seed for the 2021 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association National Championships April 22-23 at Baylor University's Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
 
Due to COVID-19, the 2021 NCATA National Championship field was cut in half, reduced to four teams.
 
The Sharks have qualified for the national tournament held in each since the program has been in existence. The Sharks reached the championships based on their strong scores posted in the COVID limited schedule, with two top 15 scores in the country this season and scoring above 269 in all three contests.
 
The No. 4 Sharks (2-1) face off familiar foe and top-seeded Azusa Pacific (3-0) in the semifinals on Thursday, April 22 at 9 a.m. HST (2 p.m. CDT). The winner advances to Friday's national championship at 2 p.m. HST (7 p.m. CDT).

Undefeated Azusa Pacific (3-0) is the No. 1 team and top seed heading into the championships. The Cougars posted two scores about 280 and beat nationally-ranked Oregon.
 
Host Baylor (4-1) drew the No. 2 seed, avenging an earlier loss this year at Oregon last Saturday with a five-point win at the Farrell Center.  Oregon (2-2) is the No. 3 seed, while HPU is fourth with its only loss coming at Baylor.
 
The Bears and Ducks battle for a third-time this season in the semifinals on Thursday at 1 p.m. HST (7 p.m. CDT), with the winner meeting the HPU-APU winner on Friday. There are no individual event finals this season because of the reduced national championship.
 
All three matches will be nationally televised and streamed on ESPN+.
 
In addition to the announcement of the championship field, the NCATA also announced its final national rankings today. Gannon checked-in at No. 5 following the 2021 season, as the Knights wrapped up a 6-0 record with a tri-meet victory at Concordia (Wis.) this weekend. Converse (4-2) moved back into the national rankings this week after upsetting two higher-seeded teams to claim the inaugural Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship over the weekend.
 
Fairmont State moved up one spot this week to No. 7 after topping Frostburg State and West Liberty to claim its second Mountain East Conference Acrobatics & Tumbling Championship over the weekend. The Falcons finished with an undefeated record for the first time in program history. King (Tenn.) rounded out the top-eight after starting the year with a 6-0 record before falling in Sunday's championship meet at the Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling Tournament.
   
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ACROBATICS & TUMBLING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 22-23, 2019
Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
 

Semifinals, Thursday, April 22
9 a.m. HST / 2 p.m. CDT	No. 1 Azusa Pacific vs. No. 4 Hawai'i Pacific (2-1)
2 p.m. HST / 7 p.m. CDT	No. 2 Baylor (4-1) vs. No. 3 Oregon (2-2)
Championship, Friday, April 27
2 p.m. HST / 7 p.m. EDT	Semifinal winners

 
 
2021 NCATA National Rankings
April 12, 2021
 
1. Azusa Pacific (3-0)
2. Baylor (4-1)
3. Oregon (2-2)
4. Hawaii Pacific (2-1)
5. Gannon (6-0)
6. Converse (4-2)
7. Fairmont State (7-0)
8. King (Tenn.) (6-1)