HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Pacific University Acrobatics and Tumbling team will begin its 2022 campaign at No. 5 in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) preseason poll.
 
The Sharks had a shortened season in 2021 finishing at 2-2 overall with triumphs over East Texas Baptist and Mary Hardin-Baylor. Their two losses were to teams ranked No. 1 when they met -- Baylor in the regular season and Azusa Pacific in the national semifinals.
 
Defending national champion Baylor (6-1) holds the top spot on the NCATA Preseason Poll with 29 of the 31 first place votes. APU just edged out Oregon for the number two spot by a point, 411-410.
 
Quinnipiac, who did not compete in the 2021 season, holds the No. 4 spot with 366 points and HPU tallied up 321 in fifth. Gannon holds the sixth spot just below the Sharks with 318.
With 37 participating schools now in the NCATA, the competition will begin to heat up. The Sharks will have five of their six meets against teams in the top six of the preseason coaches poll.
 
HPU starts the season at home against No. 2 APU on Friday, Feb. 18. The event is slated to begin at 6 p.m. at The Shark Tank.
 


2022 NCATA Preseason Coaches' Poll 
1. Baylor (29) - 463 
2. Azusa Pacific (1) - 411 
3. Oregon (1) - 410 
4. Quinnipiac - 366 
5. Hawaii Pacific - 321 
6. Gannon - 318 
7. Converse - 241 
8. Fairmont State - 237 
9. Limestone - 231 
10. King - 208 
11. West Liberty - 108 
12. Presbyterian - 88 
13. Belmont Abbey - 76 
14. Mary-Hardin Baylor - 61 
15. Frostburg State - 49 
 
(  ) - first-place votes