FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State, Baylor and Maryland have united in changing the name of the sport previously known as competitive cheer on their campuses to acrobatics and tumbling, the schools jointly announced Friday.

With this name change, all six inaugural members of the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) are now united under the same sport name. Azusa Pacific, Baylor, Fairmont State, Maryland, Oregon and Quinnipiac were the NCATA’s founding members during the organization’s inaugural season in 2011. Oregon won the first-ever NCATA National Championships, held in Eugene, Ore. April 7-9.

"Fairmont State is proud to be a part of the frontier in moving the sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling forward toward emerging sport status,” head coach Kristi Kiefer said. "The name change helps us to continue to grow and evolve and be united with other schools in this endeavor."

Unifying the six acrobatics and tumbling programs in their name further supports the NCATA and their emerging sport proposal for acrobatics and tumbling recently submitted to the NCAA.

“We are excited to make this announcement, and the athletic departments of these outstanding universities understand the significance as we continue to grow the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling," said John Blake, Executive Director of the NCATA. "This change continues to show the unified vision and focus of the NCATA.”

The acrobatics and tumbling season begins in February. Complete schedules will be released in the fall.