Talladega College is known for being Alabama’s first private, historically black liberal arts college, but the school hopes people will notice them for their sport after adding a new program.
Talladega College vice president and athletic director Michael Grant said the school plans to start an acrobatics and tumbling program for women. Recruitment for the program has already begun, with the competition scheduled to begin in spring 2024.
“Acrobatics and tumbling is an emerging sport that will expand opportunities for female athletes to compete. The program will help increase enrollment and retention while creating more sponsorship options,” Grant said in a press release.
“We are excited for the growth that Talladega College will see as we launch our newest athletic program and begin the process of transitioning into the National Collegiate Athletic Association.”
Acrobatics and tumbling, according to a college press release, includes tumbling, acrobatic lifts, throws and pyramids and is “the evolution of various forms of gymnastics.” The sport is governed nationally by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA).
Shirlynn Hight, a competitive cheer and dance coach, has been named the sport’s first head coach and plans to recruit 20 or more athletes.
Hight has 20 years of coaching experience and has received numerous awards including National Cheersport Champion, Super National Jammiest Cheer Champion, Cheer Power National Champion and Worldwide Spirit Association National Beach Champion. She earned a degree in Sports Management from the University of West Georgia.
President Gregory J. Vincent also released a statement on the new program. “Talladega College recently made history by becoming one of only two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to offer a women’s gymnastics program. The addition of acrobatics and tumbling, a relatively new sport on college campuses, further distinguishes our institution.”
“Through our athletic programs, we are able to expand access to a superior, student-centered education at Talladega College.”
Founded in 1867, Talladega College was recognized 13th in the nation for social mobility by US News and World Report in 2022 and was named one of the 2023 Princeton Review Region-by-Region Best Colleges, according to the school.
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