Ducks Fall To Baylor In Emotionally Charged Semifinal

Friday, April 27

Erie, Pa.

4:00 PM

University of Oregon

277.725

281.410

Baylor

Ducks Fall To Baylor In Emotionally Charged Semifinal

04/27/18 | Acrobatics & Tumbling

Meet Results

ERIE, Pa. – The Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team came into Friday's NCATA semifinal meet with one goal in mind: to finally dethrone No. 1 Baylor and advance to Saturday's national championship meet. While they nearly pulled off the improbable, the Ducks could not knock off the three-time defending champions, falling 281.410-277.725.

But ask anyone who witnessed the latest chapter in the two teams' storied rivalry, and they will tell you that the score didn't come close to illuminating the grit of Oregon, and its ability to bring everyone together for one magical moment.

"Tonight was one for the books," said head coach Keenyn Won. "Obviously it did not swing our way, but I could not be any more proud of this team. We came into this meet wanting to prove ourselves and feel satisfied with whatever we left on the floor."

Much like they have all season, the Ducks and Bears put on a clinic, scoring above a 9.50 in all but two heats throughout the first four events.

UO put up big numbers in the opening event, tying its season-high score with a 9.95 in the compulsory toss heat. The Ducks went on to win three of the four heats to record a slim 38.70-38.575 victory over Baylor, setting the tone for an extremely close meet.

After winning the acro event, 29.550-29.125, Baylor took a 0.30 lead over the Ducks that, despite UO winning both the pyramid and toss events, the Bears managed to retain heading into the tumbling event.

Oregon and Baylor left less than one point on the mat in each of the three events, with Oregon recording 88.15 points out of a possible 89.8, while Baylor earned 88.475 out of a possible 89.9.

Despite a tremendous tumbling performance that saw Hannah Blair, Casi Jackson and MaKenna Jarman record a season-high 9.425 in the triple pass tumbling heat, Baylor managed to win the event, 58.250-56.575, to take a lead of less than two points into the team event.

With the meet still very much up for grabs, the Ducks hit the floor first for the team event. UO looked strong after working to clean up errors from Thursday's quarterfinals against Gannon — until the Ducks' music was cut off mid-performance.

Unbeknownst to most right away, junior Caroline Matos had landed awkwardly in the far corner of the mat, suffering an apparent injury. As she was carried off the floor by trainers, the Ducks had only a few minutes to compose themselves before picking up their team routine where they had left off.

Still rattled, Oregon retook the floor to finish what it had started, and the crowd rallied around them.

The Ducks hit their first mark after the restart and the Hammermill Center erupted. Baylor fans, Duck fans, even members of the Fairmont State acro team who were in attendance, all shouted and cheered the team on. Oregon fed off their energy.

Through teary eyes, the Ducks powered through the last half of their routine, finishing with an emphatic "Go Ducks!" to a roaring crowd.

"Personally I think it is something that I have never experienced in my entire life," said Won. "I think every single person in that arena was dialed in, and every single person on that floor was dialed in and doing it for their teammate Caroline, and for each other. It was just an indescribable moment"

Oregon didn't win the team event, or the meet for that matter. But by that point any nagging disappointments didn't really seem to matter that much.

"It was so crazy, the feeling I had when I was on top of that pyramid," said senior Alexis Cross. "Everyone just went absolutely nuts that we hit it. I truly can't describe to you what it felt like, but it made everything worth it despite the outcome of the meet."

The truth of Friday's semifinal will take a while to sink in, but for now the Ducks turn their attention to the NCATA individual event finals.

"It's a mindset change," said Won. "Our goal leading up to tonight was to advance to the final round. Obviously that goal is done and we need to shift gears and bring home as many of those event national titles as we can."

And the Ducks will have plenty of opportunities to do just that, after qualifying for 14 of the 15 individual event finals that will begin Saturday evening at 4:30 p.m. PT.