Lions score season-high in close meet with Presbyterian

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill acrobatics & tumbling team (3-1) was defeated by Presbyterian (3-0) by a score of 244.005-241.885 Tuesday evening.

The Lions scored their season-best in their second home meet of the year and their second straight meeting scoring over 240 points.

Presbyterian led 36.2-33.8 after the Compulsory, in large part to their Acro Heat, scoring a 9.15 to the Lions' 6.35. Mars Hill, however, outscored the Blue Hose in both the Toss (9.65-9.55) and the Tumbling Heats (8.0-7.65).

The Lions closed the gap in the Acro Event, performing strong in all three events, highlighted by their 9.0 in the third heat.

The teams scored over 9.15 in every heat of the Pyramid Event with the Blue Hose scoring a near-perfect 9.95 in the Open Heat. Mars Hill also scored highest in the open heat with a 9.6, entering the half trailing by a score of 90.35-88.05.

Mars Hill narrowly outscored the Blue Hose in the second half, 153.835-153.655. Presbyterian pulled away by an additional point in the Toss Event, outscoring Mars Hill 25.75-24.50. In the Tumbling Event, both teams scored over 49 points.

Nasiri Mond, in the aerial pass, scored an 8.425 out of 8.6. Arwen Mamer followed up strongly with an 8.975 in the 6-Element pass and Reese Goldberg scored an 8.525 in the Open Heat, rounding out three solid individual passes.

The Lions fell just short of their comeback in the team event. Mars Hill did, however, outscore Presbyterian by a score of 80.31-78.08.

Mars Hill returns to the mats on Saturday, March 1 when they host Emmanuel. The meet is set for a 2 p.m. start inside Chambers Gymnasium.