The Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team announced the signing of eight athletes to their 2015-16 team in a press release on Monday night. The four-time National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Champions received National Letters of Intent from athletes stemming from California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and Washington.
The following player biographies and scouting assessments are from head coach Chelsea Shaw and the Oregon athletic department.
Nicole Angiuli (5-foot-2) Villa Park, California – Villa Park HS – Top
Angiuli was named MVP of Villa Park High School’s state champion cheerleading team in 2014. In 2010 she won a state title in gymnastics on bars.
“Nicole will be a strong top in tosses as well as acro with her body control and poise,” Shaw said. “She is a great tumbler with a strong gymnastics and cheer background. Nicole is a humble athlete that is going to excel in college athletics.”
Megan Barney (5-foot-2) Temecula, California – Great Oak HS – Top
Barney began competitive cheerleading in 2008 with Pacific Coast Magic, and she also dove for the swimming and diving team at Great Oak High School. Barney was a CIF Division II Girls Diving semifinalist in 2013 when she placed 22nd and also in 2014 when she finished 19th.
“Megan is an incredible top that will be heavily utilized in compulsories and acro,” Shaw said. “She has great technical skills with experience in diving as well as tumbling. She will be an all-around asset in multiple events.”
Hannah Blair (5-foot-2) Springfield, Ohio – Kenton Ridge HS – Base/Top
Blair began competing in gymnastics when she was four years old. She ended as a level eight gymnast when she was 13. In high school she currently participates in competitive cheerleading and swimming. She received the All-Central Buckeye Conference award for her high school cheerleading team and she has also received the most improved award on the swim team.
“Hannah is a powerful tumbler with great technique that produces amazing height and amplitude,” Shaw said. “She brings the “wow factor” when she tumbles. Hannah will be a go-to player for our tumbling event with the ability to be utilized as both a base and top, bringing great versatility as a freshman.”
Samantha Little (5-foot-5) Saugus, California – Saugus HS – Base/Top
Little began as a gymnast for the first six years of her athletic career and reached level eight. After gymnastics she picked up cheerleading in high school and was named the team MVP in 2013.
“Samantha is an elegant tumbler with phenomenal technique,” Shaw said. “She has a positive spirit and is determined to succeed. With Samantha’s versatility she has the potential to base, back and top for us. We are excited to have her as an athlete in our program.”
Caroline Matos (5-foot-4) Carlsbad, California – La Costa Canyon HS – Base
Matos has been competitively cheerleading for the past 11 years, and she still cheers for her club team, the California All-Stars. In 2012 her team took first place at the NCA National Championships and in 2013 and 2014 they took third. In 2012 and 2014 they won the silver at the USASF World Championships, and in 2013 they won the gold.
“Caroline is a strong base with powerful tumbling combinations,” said Shaw. “She will be an asset in the team event, acro and she could work her way into tumbling heats. She is a positive athlete that will be a great addition to our program.”
Taylor “TJ” McCourt (5-foot-1) Brick, New Jersey – Brick Township HS – Base/Top
McCourt comes to Oregon from a gymnastics background where she reached level 10 in the past year. In total, she has 12 years of competitive gymnastics experience. She was named the team captain and MVP of the Brick Township High School gymnastics team.
“TJ is an exquisite gymnast with an incredible work ethic that will be valued on our team,” Shaw said. “Her technique allows for a high level of execution that is very clean. We will utilize TJ as a base and a top with her great body control and awareness.”
Ashley Scanlon (5-foot-4) Glastonbury, Connecticut – Glastonbury HS – Base/Top
Scanlon is a competitive cheerleader who competes for the Spirit Central Bengals in her hometown of Glastonbury, Conn. She began competing in gymnastics at age six, but decided to focus on competitive cheerleading after earning all-state and All-America honors in gymnastics on the balance beam and floor events.
“Ashley comes to us from a gymnastics background with a variety of different tumbling passes that will be valuable for our program,” said Shaw. “She is a base and has the potential to be utilized as a top for both tosses and acro.”
Tia Thomas (5-foot-6) Auburn, Washington – Federal Way HS – Base
One of the most versatile athletes in the class, Thomas has placed in the top ten in the Washington 4A State Championships in gymnastics, diving and track and field (pole vault). Last year she took fourth in the state in diving, 11th in gymnastics for the floor event and 11th in the pole vault. As a result of her success, she was a finalist for the Seattle Times Athlete of the Year.
“Tia is a strong athlete that brings great height and an experience in both diving and gymnastics,” said Shaw. “She is going to be a phenomenal back and base for us. Tia will potentially be in a tumbling heat, the team event, and could become a strong go-to base for toss and pyramids.”
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