Acrofest 2022 wrapped up

A long-awaited return

The brisk, chilly fall wind gave a classic Nebraska welcome to the buses filled with students from universities, colleges, and academies from all over the country. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, Acrofest finally made its long-awaited return, this time hosted by your friendly neighborhood college.  

Those familiar with Acrofest were excited as if the Olympics came to Union College! From Thursday, November 10 to Saturday, November 12, gymnasts from around the country came together at the Speedway Sports Complex for intensives and classes, primarily focused on acro-gymnastics, culminating in a spectacular final performance on Saturday night. Ticket sales for the event sored in anticipation!  

"I feel excited and ready to mingle," said freshman Andrews University student Matthew upon arrival. So is Aby from Thunderbird Adventist Academy. "This is my first Acrofest," she said. "I don't really know what to expect, but I know we got this!" 

Outsiders weren't the only ones excited about the event. Students and faculty from Union College quickly grabbed their free tickets to the grand finale, eager for a chance to watch the home team show off and interact with others. Bekah Fingerson agrees. 

 "I like Acrofest because it builds community, and it's nice to connect with other colleges as well!" said Fingerson, showing off her ticket to the show.

However, not everyone shared in the excitement. With the influx of visitors, many Union students had to deal with a few more roommates than usual. "Chaotic!" said nursing student Rebeka Nishimwe, describing the disruption caused by the wave of new occupants in her dorm. Yet, despite the inconveniences, Union students graciously and patiently welcomed and shared their space with the guests.

While no doubt a stressful and busy weekend, the return of Acrofest was a long-awaited sign of a return to normalcy for gymnastic teams after COVID. Students and staff alike mingled and enjoyed the return and reconnect of the gymnastics community at no doubt one of their biggest and most loved events of the year. 

By: Fortune Ogulere

It was fun while it lasted

With the conclusion of Acrofest, things are winding down slowly. The festival ended with a grand finale on Saturday, Nov. 12 which went on from 7 p.m. past 9. During the finale, schools were able to perform the results of their hard work for the audience of students, parents and faculty. The show started with a light acrobatic show by Madison Academy which received a massive hand applause. It included performances from Southern Adventist Academy and University, Andrews University, Sunnydale Academy and more. The grand finale was Union College performing a spectacular acro gymnastic and dance routine, which prompted many other school participants and viewers to join the performers onstage. 

Many people had positive opinions about the Acrofest event. Coach Eric Pardo from Collegedale Academy said, “It’s an awesome experience for the kids to be here and learn from all the clinicians. It's awesome how Union College was able to host this year’s Acrofest; we are very excited to come here, even though we drove from Tennessee. We are having a great time and appreciate this opportunity to learn from people who know what they are doing and expand our skills. Last year’s Acrofest was postponed, so we didn't have one, and then it was virtual, but this year is better as the kids get to have a more direct … experience.”

1,090 days have passed since the last Acrofest in 2019 and many people were excited for the annual event to happen again. 

“[This year’s Acrofest] is fantastic,” Pardo continued. “It's very well organized and Coach Rick Schwarz has done a great job of getting the clinicians in here, getting through the rotations and giving valuable skills to these kids.” 

Pardo also spoke about the well-being of some of the teams and described how each school has their own program and how this affects the performance of each school’s team. This could be seen during the finale as some schools performed at a higher level than others.

By: Robert Tengker