The Penn gymnastics team is firing on all cylinders as they prepare for the upcoming Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Championships. With two strong performances in the past week, the Quakers have added four new entries to their program record book and are poised to make a run for their fourth consecutive conference title.
Record-Breaking Success
The Quakers kicked off their week with a third-place finish at UNC, defeating Ivy League rival Yale. They continued their momentum at Towson, setting a new season-high team score of 196.200, the fourth-highest in program history. Standout performances came from freshman Manama Fofana, who scored a 9.850 on vault, and junior Marissa Lassiter, who earned a 9.800 at Towson.
On the bars, the team achieved a season-best score of 49.275, the second-highest in program history. Junior Sophia Paris matched her career high with a 9.875, while freshman Mimi Fletcher impressed with a 9.825.
Beam and Floor Improvements
The beam, typically a challenging event for the Quakers, saw remarkable performances. Fletcher and junior Skyelar Kerico set personal bests with 9.925, tying for the third-highest beam score in program history. The team’s beam score of 49.225 at Towson was their second-best ever.
After a shaky floor performance at UNC, the team rebounded at Towson with a solid 48.925. Senior Zara Gazdak and Kerico led the way with scores of 9.800 and 9.825, respectively.
Team Confidence and Focus
Freshman Mimi Fletcher highlighted the team’s hard work paying off, saying, “Achieving personal bests proves we can do great things.” Meanwhile, junior Sophia Paris emphasized the importance of focusing on one meet at a time. “We’re competing against ourselves and improving with each meet,” she said.
Looking Ahead
With only two meets remaining before the GEC Championships, the Quakers are determined to continue their dominance. Their next challenge is their final away meet at William & Mary on February 8, 2025.
The Penn gymnastics team has proven they are a force to be reckoned with, breaking records and building confidence as they aim for another championship title.
