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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">November
11, 2020<br>
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</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">A&T Inks 12 to 2021 Signing Class<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The Bears have signees from five different states in this year’s class<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Zach
Rhodes, 919-247-7585,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:Zach_Rhodes@baylor.edu" title="mailto:Zach_Rhodes@baylor.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">Zach_Rhodes@baylor.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">WACO, Texas –</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> Baylor acrobatics and tumbling signed another
well-rounded and talented class of 12 student-athletes for its 2021 recruiting class during the early signing period. Seventh-year head coach
</span><a href="https://baylorbears.com/staff.aspx?staff=319"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;text-decoration:none">Felecia</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">
Mulkey</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"> put together a class with strong backgrounds in gymnastics and cheerleading, building upon the program's championship culture. <br>
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The class will come to Baylor from around the country, with two from New Jersey, Florida and Georgia, four from Texas and one each from Ohio and Pennsylvania.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">“I am thrilled about this signing class. They bring a diverse background to our program,” Mulkey said. “We have a top from acrobatic gymnastics,
several powerful gymnasts that will bring combinations and technique that will score well right away. We are bringing in a couple of competitive cheerleaders that will contribute in acro, toss and pyramid. We also have a powerful base who just happens to be
the first athlete to be signed while training specifically in the sport of acrobatics and tumbling. That shows growth of the sport at the youth level. This class will make an impact immediately. Our future is bright.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Layla Alexander | Tumbler | Waco, Texas | Homeschool
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Competed with Zero Gravity Gymnastics Academy … 2020 Pikes Peak Cup All-Around Champion … 2019 WOGA Classic All-Round Champion … 2016 Region 3 State Vault Champion … 2016 Texas State Vault Champion … 2015 Region 3 Vault Champion … 2015 Texas State Vault Champion …
2015 Kurt Thomas Invitational All Round Champion, Floor Champion … 2010 Texas State All-Round Champion … 2014 TAAF State All-Round Champion … 2013 TAAF State All-Round Champion … 2012 TAAF State All-Round Champion …. Texas USAG Gymnastics Award… Also played
club softball … Volunteered for the Salvation Army.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Baleigh Baughn | Base/Tumbler | Austin, Texas | Lake Travis HS
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Four-year varsity cheerleader … Team Captain … NCA All-American Nominee in 2018 & 2019 … Cheerleader of the Week in 2018 … 2017-19 Competitive Cheer
Squad … 2017-18 Cheerleader of the Year … 2018 NCA State Champions … Competed with Electric Avenue Athletics for club … USAG Junior/Senior Olympic A&T placed first in 2019 and 2020 at the Biles Invitational, Texas Mega Meet, Las Vegas Mega Meet … 2019 & 2018
USAG National A&T Champion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Talia Delacruz | Tumbler | Clermont, Fla. | Lake Minneola HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Two-year varsity cheerleader … Gymnastics Level 9 All-Around State Champion and regional qualifier … Third-place AA Regional champion and Eastern
qualifier … Level 10 third-place floor and beam champion and state qualifier … Level 6 Coed at Top Gun Orlando in 2020 … Honor roll student all throughout high school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Jordan Gruendler | Top | San Antonio, Texas | Pearson Online Academy</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Competed with Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio … Two-time national champion … Eight-time national medalist … 2019 USA Pan American Ambassador … 2018 & 2016 World Team member … 2015-20 Acrobatic Gymnastics USA National Team member … 2018 Acrobatic Gymnastic
Youth Olympic qualifier … 2016 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championship finalist.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Rakel Jeffries | Tumbler | Massillon, Ohio | Perry HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Attended Diva Gymnastics Academy for 11 years under head coach Travis Seefried ... Level 9 Eastern National Competitor ... Two-time Ohio Floor State
Champion ... 2019 AAU Level 10 Floor Champion (9.9) … Academic Honors all four years of high school .... Member of her high school Symphonic Winds and Marching Band.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Kacie Kier | Top | Clearwater, Fla. | Calvary Christian HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Three-year varsity cheerleader at Calvary Christian … Won the Most Outstanding Cheerleader Award … Two years on the competitive squad … FCC All-American
… Cheers competitively for the CheerExpress All-Stars … World Champions in 2018 … Ranked in the Top 30 Upcoming Athletes in 2018 … Volunteered with Shining Stars, a special needs cheer team … Selected for the American Sign Language Worship Team.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Alaina LaRosa | Top/Tumbler | Lawrenceville, Ga. | Peachtree Ridge HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Four-year varsity competition cheerleader … All-American … Scholar-Athlete … Team Captain at Peachtree Ridge … Competes with ATA Atomic, previously
with Rockstar Cheer … Triple Crown Champion (NCA, UCA & Cheersport) and World Champion with Rockstar Cheer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Emilie Nelson | Tumbler | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Norwin HS</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Senior varsity cheer captain at Norwin High School … Won the best tumbler, best stunt group and leadership award … Cheers competitively for the HotCheer All-Stars … Winner of the JamFest Super Nationals in Indianapolis .. Won the MVP, sunshine and leadership
awards … Placed seventh at the World Championships … Placed ninth at NCA in Dallas … Volunteered for Team Hotshots, a special needs cheer team … Also volunteered with GRACE and Relay For Life .. Member of the Spanish club, yearbook club and ski club.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Mariah Polk | Base/Tumbler | Dallas, Ga. | Harrison HS
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Attended the Atlanta School of Gymnastics where she trained in acrobatics and tumbling … Won the science fair at Harrison High School and regionally, qualified for states … Summit National Champion in 2019 … Member of the STEM program, BETA Club and Vice President
of HOSA … Lettered in athletic training for three years … Also volunteered as an elementary school and special needs teacher assistant.
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Maggie Smith | Tumbling | Katy, Texas | Obra D Tompkins HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Varsity cheerleader in her senior year … All-American Cheerleader … Competed with Champion Gymnastics … Won the Chris Waller’s Heart of a Champion
Award … Two-time Texas State Champion in beam and floor … Four-time Regional Qualifier … Regional Floor Champion … Three-time Ricky Deci Award winner … Three-year team captain … Four-year academic honor roll … Member of the National Honors Society and PALs
… Best Buddies Club member.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Gianna Vaiarelli | Tumbler | Delran, N.J. | Delran HS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Was a Level 10 gymnast … Six-time State Champion … Level 10 State and Regional qualifier … 2018 Eastern National Qualifier … Finished second on the
floor and fifth on the vault in the Eastern National Championships … Two-time Regional Champion in 2018 (bars and all-around) … Made straight A’s the last two years, earned the Principal’s List Award … 5.36 GPA, top three-percent of her class … Member of the
National Honors Society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Adelaide Vezzosi | Top/Tumbler | Brick, N.J. | Donovan Catholic</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
Four-year captain of varsity gymnastics … 2019 Most Achieved Gymnast … MVP Gymnast in 2018 & 2017 … Two-year varsity cheerleader … GOES Scholarship Award winner … Club Team is Rock Gymnastics … TOPS National Team Member.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white">-BaylorBears.com-</span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Zach</span></b><span style="color:black"> Rhodes | Associate Director of Athletics Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">C: 919-247-7585 | O: 254-710-3784<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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