SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Cougars competed at the 2025 NCATA national championships in Sunday's event finals, which took place at Augustana University.  The Cougars scores during the regular season earned them the opportunity to compete in five of the 15 events.  In each event, they took on the four quarter-finalists from Thursday who had the highest scores.

In their first appearance at this year's championships, the Cougars sent the team of Erin Schmitt, Emily Sheneman, Martina Klecka, Gabby Fendrich, Keelie Adsit, and Kendall Sullivan onto the mats to compete in the open toss heat.  The Cougars put up a score of 9.15 in the event, which was one of nine events on the day won by national champion Baylor.

The Cougars also qualified for four tumbling events.  Sullivan teamed with Allee Kooch on the duo tumbling pass.  Abigail Cortez, Kourtny Nolan, and Addison Day-Esson competed in the trio pass.  Carly Jackman, Maria Hurst, and Gabby Hornung combined with Klecka to represent the Cougars on the quad pass.  And to round out the day, Sullivan competed for the third time on the day in the aerial tumbling pass.

As part of the post meet award ceremonies, senior Abbigale Abramson was given the Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award.  The award, named for the late Azusa Pacific head coach, is given annually to a senior student athlete who exemplifies servant leadership.  Abramson joins Gabby Drago (2022) and Sara Lang (2024) as the third Azusa Pacific student who have won this award in its five years of existence.

While the Cougars did not win any titles this time around, competing in these event finals will provide valuable experience for the team as they look forward to the 2026 season, when Azusa Pacific will host the national championships for the first time in nine years.