NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University Acrobatics & Tumbling team has announced its 2026 competition schedule, featuring three home meets at the Hynes Athletics Center this upcoming season.
Under the direction of third-year head coach
Jacquie Eshleman, the Gaels continue to build upon its rapid growth as one of the nation's emerging Acrobatics & Tumbling programs in the third season of competition. The Gaels ended the 2025 regular season as the number six team in the nation. Iona clinched a team berth in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling National Championship for the first time in program history, reaching the NCATA Quarterfinals.
2026 SCHEDULE
The Gaels open the 2026 campaign on Saturday, February 14, hosting for a Valentine's Day season opener at the Hynes Athletic Center. It is the third consecutive meeting between the two metropolitan schools. Iona then welcomes Morgan State to New Rochelle for the first time on Saturday, February 21. The Gaels and Bears met previously in Iona's inaugural 2024 season down in Baltimore.
After a short break, the Gaels host the 10-time NCATA National Champions, Baylor on March 9. The Gaels and Bears square off for the third consecutive season and the second meeting at the Hynes Athletic Center.
Iona then hits the road for a challenging stretch to close out the regular season, beginning with a matchup at Oregon on Sunday, March 15. It is the first trip out west to Eugene for the Gaels to square off against the 2024 NCATA finalists.
The road trip continues Wednesday, March 18 for a matchup at Augustana University. It is the first-ever meeting between the Gaels and the Vikings who reached the NCATA Semifinals as the no. four seed and national championship hosts a season ago.
The regular season concludes on Saturday, March 28 when the Gaels travel to Quinnipiac for a rematch of the 2025 NCATA Quarterfinal. The Gaels and Bobcats square off for the fourth time in the last three seasons.
The 2026 NCATA National Championship will take place April 23–26 at Azusa Pacific University's Felix Event Center in Azusa, California.
