Waco, Texas – On Wednesday night on the eve of the 2021 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championships at the Ferrell Center in Waco, the NCATA announced its 2021 major awards and All-America Team via a social media reveal on the NCATA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

In addition to the announcement of the 2021 major awards, the NCATA also announced is All-American team on Wednesday night.

Five honorees are repeat selections from the 2019 season, including Azusa Pacific's Hannah Alonzo and Beth Magee, Oregon's Payton Coon and Addie Lacewell, and King's Catherine Reynolds.
 
APU, Baylor and Oregon each had three selections on the All-American team. Jacie Van de Zilver joined Alonzo and Magee on the All-America team from Azusa Pacific, while Alyssa Hew joined Coon and Lacewell as the third selection from the University of Oregon. Baylor was represented by Riley Chimwala (also Freshman of the Year), Kam Kitchens and Emily Tobin (also Most Outstanding Athlete).
 
Two athletes represented Hawai'i Pacific in Isabella Delacruz and Avery Tyson, while Converse's Tanjae Lugo, Gannon's Nikki Pizzi, Limestone's Jessica Rubbo and Fairmont State's Alexis Smith were named to the All-America Team for the first time in their careers.

A message from Head Coach Keegan Johnson on Tanjae Lugo and her performances this season: 

"Tanjae Lugo is a standout athlete on our team and serves as a top and tumbler. She is the third athlete in Converse history to be selected for the NCATA All-American Team. Tanjae was selected as a First Team All-Conference honoree and brought home three event championships for the Valkyries during the inaugural Conference Carolinas Championship (450 Salto Toss, Duo Tumbling, and Six-Element Tumbling Pass). In Week 6, she received NCATA Athlete of the Week Honorable Mention.
 
Tanjae competed in an average of 12 heats per meet and was a key contributor to all 6 events. Standout scores for the year included a perfect 9.5/9.5 on her Six-Element Pass, 9.9/10.0 in Six-Element Acro, and a 9.8/9.9 on her 450 Salto Toss.

I am so proud of Tanjae and everything she has accomplished this season. In a season more difficult than any, Tanjae stepped up so much this year for her teammates and pushed herself to new heights. I'm thrilled her hard work and dedication is being recognized because she is truly a deserving athlete."
 
Converse NCATA All-Americans:
2021: Tanjae Lugo
2019: Tyaeme Lugo
2018: Breana Clarke