Duquesne University Athletics

Abby McDermott joined the Duquesne acrobatics and tumbling coaching staff in 2026 after completing a standout collegiate career that culminated with NCATA All-America Second Team honors. One of the first NCATA All-Americans in program history, McDermott helped lead the Dukes to their first national championship tournament appearance in just the program's second season.

A six-time NCATA Academic Honor Roll selection, McDermott spent her first four collegiate seasons at Glenville State before transferring to Duquesne as a graduate student. During her time with the Pioneers, she earned All-Mountain East Conference Second Team honors in 2023 and was a member of the silver medal-winning Five-Element Acro event at the 2023 MEC Individual Event Finals.

McDermott played a pivotal role in Duquesne's inaugural season in 2025, serving as the lone upperclassman on a roster of more than 30 freshmen and as one of only two student-athletes with prior acrobatics and tumbling experience. Her leadership helped guide the Dukes to a national ranking throughout the entirety of the program's first season.

In her final collegiate season, McDermott earned two NCATA Weekly Honorable Mention selections while competing in at least eight heats plus the team event in all seven meets. She led the team by competing in nine heats on five occasions and contributed to nine program-record performances throughout the season.

As the primary base in Duquesne's inversion pyramid, McDermott helped the heat rank among the nation's top three during the regular season, scoring at least 9.75 in every meet, including a season-best 9.90 against Azusa Pacific. She also contributed to nationally ranked synchronized pyramid and synchronized toss heats and was part of Duquesne's highest-scoring heat in program history, a 9.95 in the compulsory toss against Azusa Pacific.

In addition to her competitive accomplishments, McDermott was a finalist for the 2026 NCATA Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award, recognizing her dedication, leadership and commitment to the sport. She also volunteered at youth acrobatics and tumbling camps, helping mentor and inspire the next generation of student-athletes.

A native of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, McDermott was the first graduate in Duquesne acrobatics and tumbling program history.