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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><b>BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 30, 2026</b></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">Baylor A&T Opens Season Ranked No. 1 in NCATA Preseason Poll</span></div>
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<b><i>Bears voted No. 1 for 11th straight season</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: black; line-height: 13.8px;"><b>For more information contact: Eliot Jones</b>; 512-579-6478, eliot_jones1@baylor.edu </span></p>
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<b>WACO, Texas –</b> Baylor acrobatics & tumbling was voted the preseason favorite in the NCATA Coaches Poll, released Friday.</div>
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With head coach Felecia Mulkey entering her 12th season, the Bears aim to defend their national crown and pursue an 11th consecutive NCATA championship.</div>
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Baylor’s sustained success was evident in the poll results, as the Bears collected 39 first-place votes from NCATA coaches to secure the top ranking. It marks the 11th consecutive year BU has opened the season ranked No. 1.</div>
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The Bears open the 2026 campaign on Friday, Feb. 6, traveling to Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida. Saint Leo was selected 11th in the preseason poll. The meet is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Marion Bowman Activities Center.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;">2026 NCATA Preseason Coaches' Poll</span></div>
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Baylor (39)</div>
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Oregon (2)</div>
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Quinnipiac (2)</div>
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Iona</div>
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Augustana</div>
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Fairmont State</div>
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Duquesne</div>
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UMHB</div>
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Gannon</div>
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Azusa Pacific</div>
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Saint Leo</div>
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Glenville State</div>
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Hawaii Pacific</div>
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Lander</div>
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La Salle</div>
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<i>( ) - 1st-place votes</i></div>
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<i>*One unranked team received a 1st-place vote</i></div>
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<i>**44 of 47 competing institutions submitted a preseason ballot</i></div>
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To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor acrobatics & tumbling, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram: @BaylorAcroTumb.</div>
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- BaylorBears.com -</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Eliot Jones</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Communications Assistant (Acrobatics & Tumbling) | Department of Athletic</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">s</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(100, 100, 100);"><b><br>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Sales Strategy in Sports and Entertainment</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); line-height: 1.2;">Baylor University '26</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(25, 28, 43);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); line-height: 13.2px;">512.579.6478</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 1px;" class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Mulish, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(25, 28, 43);"><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow noreferrer" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAf2678965-ec4d-299b-5a83-e2f70785e110" target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliot-jones/"><img style="width: 24px; height: 24px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; float: left;" height="24" width="24" id="x_x_image_0" alt="linkedin" src="https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/s/ld/0077b5/48/0/background.png"></a></span></p>
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