Lexi and Lexi: Senior Day For Acro The End Of A Local Legacy
04/08/18 | Acrobatics & Tumbling
Acro and tumbling senior Alexis Cross grew up playing in Eugene youth leagues with Lexi Bando from the UO women's basketball team.
The first time they met, as bright-eyed little girls in a Eugene kindergarten, some feelings were hurt.
Each was named Alexis at birth. Each went by Lexi. So when Alexis Cross and Lexi Bando first met, their classmates had to find a way to differentiate.
"The first day, I remember her not liking me," Cross recalled recently with a laugh. "Because we had the same name, and people had to call her Lexi B. Because I was the new kid."
It didn't take long, however, for the relationship to warm up. Cross' family cooked Bando's favorite breakfast: Dutch babies. They realized their shared love for athletics, too, particularly on the soccer field.
It was a different sport in which each would ultimately excel, in Eugene youth leagues and later in college. Bando became a basketball star, first at Willamette High and then at Oregon. Cross participated in soccer and cheer at Marist High. She went on to join the UO acrobatics and tumbling squad, and will have her Senior Day when the Ducks host Baylor on Sunday in Matthew Knight Arena (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
For the two Lexis, it will be the final competitive event in Eugene after more than a decade of athletic excellence. Since that awkward first meeting in kindergarten, they've come a long way.
"It's been super fun to watch each other compete," Bando said. "We've know each other since we were babies, so it's been so cool to see her success and what she's done at the University of Oregon."
When the two Lexis were in second grade, they even spent a season on the same basketball team. Even then, it was clear that it would be Bando whose future was on the court.
"I always traveled," Cross laughed. "And she would always say, 'Dude, you can't travel.' And that's really when I knew it wasn't for me."
Cross had plenty of other options. She participated in a variety of sports including basketball, tennis, soccer, gymnastics, and competitive cheerleading.
Soccer and cheer withstood the test of time. Cross excelled in both throughout middle and high school. During her senior year at Marist, she began to get offers to participate in soccer and cheer collegiately.
When UO acrobatics and tumbling showed interest in having her on their team, Cross had a decision to make. Ultimately she narrowed down her choices to cheering at Oklahoma State, or acrobatics and tumbling at the University of Oregon. When she received an academic scholarship from the University of Oregon, the decision became clear.
Four years later, Cross and Bando are stars of their particular sports. This year Bando, who finished her career as the NCAA's career leader in three-point shooting, helped her team make it all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Cross is a four-year letterwinner, hoping to help Oregon reach the NCATA championship meet for the fourth time in her career.
On Sunday evening, Cross steps out onto the mat for her final meet at Matthew Knight Arena. Given that top-ranked Baylor will be the competition, she didn't anticipate having the fact that it will be Senior Day on her mind.
"I'm the someone who doesn't realize what's happening until after it's happened," Cross said. "I probably won't even think about it being the last time in Matt Knight until it over."
As a Eugene native, Cross will have many friends and family in the stands Sunday evening. But her focus will be solely on the mat.
Cross will compete against Baylor for the 11th time over the past four years. She said the Ducks have displayed more fight and competitive spirit over the past week, in preparation to take on the Bears.
The Ducks know they will face a challenge from the Bears. But a lifetime of competitive sports in Eugene — including with her old friend Bando — has taught Cross that good will come of it, one way or another.
"I've learned that adversity will come to no matter who you are or what you're doing," Cross said. "First, you have to let it go, and second, it's not always a negative thing. It's always something that can make you stronger for the better."
Each was named Alexis at birth. Each went by Lexi. So when Alexis Cross and Lexi Bando first met, their classmates had to find a way to differentiate.
"The first day, I remember her not liking me," Cross recalled recently with a laugh. "Because we had the same name, and people had to call her Lexi B. Because I was the new kid."
It didn't take long, however, for the relationship to warm up. Cross' family cooked Bando's favorite breakfast: Dutch babies. They realized their shared love for athletics, too, particularly on the soccer field.
It was a different sport in which each would ultimately excel, in Eugene youth leagues and later in college. Bando became a basketball star, first at Willamette High and then at Oregon. Cross participated in soccer and cheer at Marist High. She went on to join the UO acrobatics and tumbling squad, and will have her Senior Day when the Ducks host Baylor on Sunday in Matthew Knight Arena (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
For the two Lexis, it will be the final competitive event in Eugene after more than a decade of athletic excellence. Since that awkward first meeting in kindergarten, they've come a long way.
"It's been super fun to watch each other compete," Bando said. "We've know each other since we were babies, so it's been so cool to see her success and what she's done at the University of Oregon."
When the two Lexis were in second grade, they even spent a season on the same basketball team. Even then, it was clear that it would be Bando whose future was on the court.
"I always traveled," Cross laughed. "And she would always say, 'Dude, you can't travel.' And that's really when I knew it wasn't for me."
Cross had plenty of other options. She participated in a variety of sports including basketball, tennis, soccer, gymnastics, and competitive cheerleading.
Soccer and cheer withstood the test of time. Cross excelled in both throughout middle and high school. During her senior year at Marist, she began to get offers to participate in soccer and cheer collegiately.
When UO acrobatics and tumbling showed interest in having her on their team, Cross had a decision to make. Ultimately she narrowed down her choices to cheering at Oklahoma State, or acrobatics and tumbling at the University of Oregon. When she received an academic scholarship from the University of Oregon, the decision became clear.
Four years later, Cross and Bando are stars of their particular sports. This year Bando, who finished her career as the NCAA's career leader in three-point shooting, helped her team make it all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Cross is a four-year letterwinner, hoping to help Oregon reach the NCATA championship meet for the fourth time in her career.
On Sunday evening, Cross steps out onto the mat for her final meet at Matthew Knight Arena. Given that top-ranked Baylor will be the competition, she didn't anticipate having the fact that it will be Senior Day on her mind.
"I'm the someone who doesn't realize what's happening until after it's happened," Cross said. "I probably won't even think about it being the last time in Matt Knight until it over."
As a Eugene native, Cross will have many friends and family in the stands Sunday evening. But her focus will be solely on the mat.
Cross will compete against Baylor for the 11th time over the past four years. She said the Ducks have displayed more fight and competitive spirit over the past week, in preparation to take on the Bears.
The Ducks know they will face a challenge from the Bears. But a lifetime of competitive sports in Eugene — including with her old friend Bando — has taught Cross that good will come of it, one way or another.
"I've learned that adversity will come to no matter who you are or what you're doing," Cross said. "First, you have to let it go, and second, it's not always a negative thing. It's always something that can make you stronger for the better."
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