BALTIMORE, Md. (June 7, 2024)--Morgan State acrobatics & tumbling head coach Regina Smith announced the signing of 14 incoming freshmen athletes to the 2025 season. The 2025 season will be the second in program history at Morgan State. The Lady Bears finished their inaugural campaign with a 2-4 record in 2024.
 
"This recruiting class is phenomenal and has well-rounded individuals that add great depth and value to the returning roster from our inaugural season," said Coach Smith. "Our new Bears come from across North America with similar backgrounds in competitive cheerleading and artistic gymnastics. These athletes are not only talented but are also very high academic achievers carrying over a 3.5 GPA while graduating with Honors, respectively from their high schools." 


Below are the 14 acrobatics & tumbling signees that Morgan State will welcome, along with comments by Coach Smith.
 
#50 Ruramai Chibanda- "Aka Rue, comes from Albuquerque, New Mexico with an artistic gymnastics background. She will possess the skill sets as a base & tumbler. Her gracefulness in her tumbling will exude beautiful lines that will score well in our sport." 
 
#0 Reagan Ewing- "Coming all the way from Halifax-Nova Scotia, Canada, she possesses both artistic gymnastics and competitive cheerleading skill sets. Her tenacity and work ethic will favor her as a utility position especially as a tumbler."
 
#36 Kiera Harris- "Comes from Houston, Texas as a former elite gymnast. With the strength she exudes, she will be a great addition to the utility position both as a top and base. She poses as a triple threat, as she will bring strength and power to our tumbling heats." 
 
#18 Marisa Jett- "Aka MJ, comes from Ithaca, New York as both a former gymnast and cheerleader. Her diverse backgrounds will help feature her strength and agility as a top and tumbler. Her fun and outgoing personality will bring a new light to the team as well."
 
#26 Lailah Jewell- "Comes from Indianapolis, Indiana as a former competitive cheerleader. The skill sets she displays will highlight her strength and power as both a base and tumbler. Her high-spirited personality and joyfulness will shine throughout the team." 
 
#34 Aubree Johnson- "Comes from Locust Grove, Georgia as a competitive cheerleader. Her charisma and leadership skills bring a new dimension to the team. Aubree will be used as utility, as she can serve as base, tumble, and mid-top". 
 
#10 Aniya Jones- "Comes from Waldorf, Maryland as both a competitive cheerleader and artistic gymnast. Her dual background brings a level of elite skill sets that will showcase her power, agility, and strength as a utility athlete. She will be seen in tumble heats as a tumbler, and as a base, top, and mid-top." 
 
#17 Peyton Jones- "Comes from Powder Springs, Georgia by the way of New Orleans, New Louisiana as a competitive cheerleader and former artistic gymnast. Her explosiveness and power in tumbling will be a sight to see. She will also bring strength in the base position."
 
#19 Lilly Kandallu- "A native of Oakdale, California, she comes to Morgan State as a competitive artistic gymnast. Her work ethnic and willingness to try new things will provide her the opportunity to shine as a top and tumbler. She tumbles with grace and beauty."
 
#25 Briana Milton- "Comes all the way from Dothan, Alabama as a competitive elite artistic gymnast. Her strength and balance capabilities on bars will transition well for our sport. She will be featured as a base and tumbler." 
 
#38 Amyah Moore- "Comes all the way from Stockton, California as a competitive artistic gymnast. Her body control and air awareness in floor exercise will showcase her dynamic and explosive tumbling skills. She will also be featured as a base throughout the season." 
 
#99 Sophia Oxenrider- "A Baltimore, Maryland native, Sophia comes with a cheerleading background. Her work ethic and open-mindedness will allow her to succeed in base and tumbling positions. She is known as a kind-hearted teammate." 
 
#6 Lauren Perkins- "Comes from Jonesboro, Georgia as a competitive cheerleader. Her strength, balance, power, height, and toughness are just what we need in the base position. She can toss, throw, and catch single base acro skills. She will be a sight to see in the upcoming seasons." 
 
#32 Trinity Steed- "Coming from Felton, Delaware with a competitive cheerleading and power tumbling background, she possesses an elite level of tumbling skill sets that will have her seen tumbling throughout most tumbling events and heats." 
 
Added Coach Smith, "These athletes are amazing individuals academically and athletically. Collectively, this incoming class is in the top recruiting classes across the nation. I am honored and proud to have the privilege to expand their skill sets and lead them this upcoming season." 
 
To Follow the 2025 Morgan State Acrobatics & Tumbling season, follow the team on Instagram @morganstateacro. 


FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
            Facebook: /MorganStateBears
            Twitter: @MorganStBears
            Instagram: /MorganStateBears
 
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.