Bridgeport High School Athletic Director Matt DeMotto has accompanied many BHS athletes on their signing days, but as far as he knows, this is the first time a Bridgeport Indian has signed on as a member of a collegiate acrobat team.

 

This afternoon, Madelyn Strait signed a letter of intent to attend Fairmont State University and be part of the school’s competitive acrobat and tumbling team. Coached by Bridgeport’s Kristi Kiefer, the team is a member of the National Collegiate Acrobat & Tumbling Association and competes with teams including Baylor, Oregon and Hawaii Pacific.

 

Strait was invited to be a member of the team via letter, which she received during the 2014 competitive cheer season. Requirements included a full twist and jumps to tuck; going from a toe touch into a standing tuck.

 

A four-year member of the BHS Cheer Squad and 2014-2015 co-captain, Strait said she loves the element of competition and looks forward to the traveling and the athletic challenge.

 

“I’ve been doing this for a long time now and I’m really excited to step it up to the next level,” she said.

 

BHS claimed the runner-up spot in the 2014 WVSSAC Class AA regionals and state competition in Charleston. In 2013, the Lady Indians won the region, advancing to state competition and winding up 2^nd in Class AA.

 

Cheer Coach Emilee Stout said she pleased to see Strait carry her athletic skills beyond high school.

 

“I’m really excited for her and she has actually improved a lot this past year with tumbling alone,” Stout said. “For three years, she was kind of at the same level – which was good – but she came out of nowhere this year and really stepped up her difficulty. It doesn’t surprise me at all that she’s doing this.”

 

In addition to being a talented tumbler, Strait has served as the team’s point climber for four years.

 

“In my opinion, she’s one of the best climbers to come out of our school,” Stout said.

 

Strait’s accomplishments are a true reflection of her work ethic and commitment.

 

“I can’t even tell you one day she’s missed,” Stout said. “She’s very honorable and there’s a reason I called her as one of the captains of the team. She came to a lot of our summer workouts and it has paid off for her. She’s athletic and she works really hard.”

 

Strait has been tumbling since the age of 6, competing with teams including Gym One All Stars, Fusion 5 All Stars and Fire and Ice All Stars.  

 

Cheerleading is not Strait’s only high school sport. She has also played varsity softball under Coach Frank Lopez. Though she liked softball and excelled in the sport, it was an easy decision to concentrate her post-high school efforts on tumbling, she said.

 

“It’s definitely my favorite and I’ve been doing it so long, I just wasn’t quite ready to give it up after high school,” she said.

 

Strait plans to major in biology at FSU. Joining her for today's signing - held at the BHS library - were her parents Keli and Rob, sisters Abby and Lilly, Stout and DeMotto.