BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Fairmont State's Alexis Smith repeated as the Mountain East Conference Athlete of the Year to headline the 2022 MEC Postseason Acrobatics & Tumbling awards, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon. West Liberty's Abbey Horvath was recognized as the league's top freshman, while Frostburg State's Alexis Palmieri was named the Specialist of the Year. Frostburg State's Katie Nunley was voted as the Coach of the Year.
 
Smith, a fifth-year senior from Parkersburg, W.Va., earned MEC Athlete of the Year honors for the second year in a row after leading Fairmont State to a 7-1 overall record (6-0 in MEC) and to as high as seventh in the NCATA National Rankings this week. Smith stars as a top, base and tumbler for the Falcons, competing in all six events and eight different heats as a senior. She competes in five different heats that average a score of 9.0 or higher, including a season-high 9.66 in the open tumbling pass. Over the past two weeks, Smith posted a 9.80 in the open pass against West Liberty and followed that up with a season-high 9.875 against Glenville State in the regular season finale. Smith also competes in inversion pyramid and synchronized pyramid for the Falcons, averaging a 9.30 or higher in each heat. In all, Smith has been a part of 11 heats that scored a 9.50 or higher this season. She was named the MEC Athlete of the Week on March 31.
 
Palmieri, a sophomore from Monroe Township, N.J., earned Specialist of the Year honors after starring in the pyramid event for Frostburg State this season. During the synchronized and open pyramid heats, Palmieri competes as the primary base in a backbend position. During the event, she has helped Frostburg average a 9.38 in the synch pyramid and a 9.55 in the open pyramid. Palmieri and the Bobcats scored a season-high 9.60 in the synch pyramid against Davis & Elkins and recorded back-to-back scores of 9.80 in the open pyramid against West Virginia Wesleyan and West Liberty to wrap up the regular season.
 
Horvath, a base from Wellsburg, W.Va., was recognized as the top freshman in the MEC after competing in 10 heats and team event for the Hilltoppers during her debut season. This season, she has helped the Hilltoppers average a 9.0 or higher in three different heats, including the compulsory pyramid, compulsory toss and seven-element acro. She has competed in nine heats that scored a 9.50 or higher, including a season-best 9.85 in the compulsory toss at Gannon, and a 9.80 in the inversion pyramid against Fairmont State.
 
Nunley was voted the league's Coach of the Year after leading Frostburg State to a 4-2 conference record and the No. 2-seed in the MEC Tournament in just the second season of competition for the Bobcat program. Frostburg finished the year with a 5-4 overall record, with three of the losses coming against nationally ranked opponents. This season, Frostburg broke the 250-scoring mark in five of seven meets, including a season-high 258.990 at Davis & Elkins (3/19) and 258.820 at West Liberty (4/2). Frostburg ranked No. 15 in the 2022 NCATA Coaches Poll to begin the season.
 
In addition to the major award winners, the MEC also announced its all-conference teams on Thursday. Fairmont State led the way with five total selections, including four on the league's first team. Frostburg State and West Liberty had four honorees apiece, while West Virginia Wesleyan garnered three. Davis & Elkins and Glenville State each had two athletes honored, while Alderson Broaddus placed one on the all-conference team.

Acrobatics & Tumbling Postseason Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Alexis Smith (Fairmont State)
Specialist of the Year: Alexis Palmieri (Frostburg State)
Freshman of the Year: Abbey Horvath (West Liberty)
Coach of the Year: Katie Nunley (Frostburg State)

Acrobatics & Tumbling All-Conference Teams

Student-Athlete	Team	Position	Class
First Team All-MEC
Abbie Baker	Frostburg State	Top/Tumbler	So.
Ansley Froman	Fairmont State	Top/Base	Gr.
Abbey Horvath	West Liberty	Base	Fr.
Kenzie Kyle	West Liberty	Base	Gr.
Navah Marierose	Frostburg State	Base/Tumbler	So.
Priscilla Richmond	Fairmont State	Base	Sr.
Hannah Sadler	Fairmont State	Base/Tumbler	Jr.
Mareena Scalia	West Liberty	Top/Tumbler	Jr.
Alexis Smith	Fairmont State	Top/Base/Tumbler	5y
Laiken Spahr	Frostburg State	Base/Tumbler	So.
Tiara Stokes	West Va. Wesleyan	Base	Sr.
Abigail Swinderman	Glenville State	Base/Tumbler	Jr.
Second Team All-MEC
Peyton Barnes	Fairmont State	Base	Jr.
Emily Dengel	West Va. Wesleyan	Base/Tumbler	Sr.
Portia Durden	Davis & Elkins	Top/Tumbler	Sr.
Gabby Guldin	Alderson Broaddus	Base	So.
Maddisyn Hahn	Glenville State	Top/Tumbler	So.
Joniah Howell	West Va. Wesleyan	Base/Tumbler	Sr.
Hannah Krumpach	Frostburg State	Base	Sr.
Paige McGlothlin	West Liberty	Base	Sr.
Lauren Whittier	Davis & Elkins	Base	Sr.