Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
McMorris Named NCATA Athlete of the Week
02/19/25 | Acrobatics & Tumbling
EUGENE, Ore. – Senior base Blessyn McMorris has been named the NCATA Athlete of the Week after helping lead Oregon to its largest season-opening win since 2015 last week against Morgan State.
The specialty base was instrumental in the Ducks' 281.205-256.145 win over the Bears, which was the highest total by a UO squad under head coach Taylor Susnara. McMorris competed in five of six events in her return to competition after missing the 2024 season with an Achilles injury.
McMorris shined in the pyramid event, where she helped lead the Ducks to a 9.85 or better in all three heats. The Ducks earned a 29.65 in the event, their eighth score of 29.00 or higher in the last nine meets. She was also a key part of UO's team event success as the Ducks scored a 99.18, the highest team event total under Coach Susnara and best since 2021.
The Lynwood, Ill., native is the first Duck to earn Athlete of the Week honors since Cami Wilson did so last season. McMorris is no stranger to NCATA weekly awards, as she was named Freshman of the Week three times in 2022 before earning Freshman of the Year honors. She remains the only Duck in program history to be named Freshman of the Year.
McMorris was not the only Oregon base to be recognized this week as newcomer Angelica Martin earned honorable mention Freshman of the Week honors. Martin also competed in five events, including the debut of a brand-new skill that she and fellow freshman Cassidy Cu submitted in the five-element acro, which earned a 9.65. It is the first skill of its kind ever competed at Oregon.
The Ducks return to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. when they host top-ranked Baylor at Matthew Knight Arena.
The specialty base was instrumental in the Ducks' 281.205-256.145 win over the Bears, which was the highest total by a UO squad under head coach Taylor Susnara. McMorris competed in five of six events in her return to competition after missing the 2024 season with an Achilles injury.
McMorris shined in the pyramid event, where she helped lead the Ducks to a 9.85 or better in all three heats. The Ducks earned a 29.65 in the event, their eighth score of 29.00 or higher in the last nine meets. She was also a key part of UO's team event success as the Ducks scored a 99.18, the highest team event total under Coach Susnara and best since 2021.
The Lynwood, Ill., native is the first Duck to earn Athlete of the Week honors since Cami Wilson did so last season. McMorris is no stranger to NCATA weekly awards, as she was named Freshman of the Week three times in 2022 before earning Freshman of the Year honors. She remains the only Duck in program history to be named Freshman of the Year.
McMorris was not the only Oregon base to be recognized this week as newcomer Angelica Martin earned honorable mention Freshman of the Week honors. Martin also competed in five events, including the debut of a brand-new skill that she and fellow freshman Cassidy Cu submitted in the five-element acro, which earned a 9.65. It is the first skill of its kind ever competed at Oregon.
The Ducks return to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. when they host top-ranked Baylor at Matthew Knight Arena.
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