The University of Pennsylvania gymnastics team will begin its home season at The Palestra on Sunday, February 1, facing Bridgeport in their first dual meet of the year. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will also feature Youth Day activities.
Penn enters the meet with a 3-0 record to start the season. Their most recent performance resulted in a season-high score of 195.075, aided by strong routines from several athletes. Sophomore Manama Fofana placed in the top six across all three events she competed in, earning season highs on beam (9.775), floor (9.850), and vault (9.800). Her score on the floor matched her career best.
Freshman Ava Hooten contributed significantly as the final performer on floor during last Friday’s meet, scoring a 9.875 and helping Penn surpass the 49-point mark for that rotation with a total of 49.025.
Senior captain Alisha Werlen achieved her personal best on beam with a score of 9.850, exceeding her previous high of 9.800.
The Quakers’ score of 49.025 on floor marks their first time this season reaching above 49 points in any rotation.
In national rankings, Penn holds the #40 spot according to Road to Nationals and is ranked #5 in the Northeast Regional rankings. Sophomore Luci Toczydlowski leads the Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) on bars with an average score of 9.792 over three appearances.
Bridgeport comes into Sunday’s competition after winning their most recent quad meet against Brown, LIU, and Springfield with a team score of 194.050—their first win following third- and fourth-place finishes earlier this year.
Bridgeport athletes Nova Staruk and Abigail Kenney currently lead the GEC on vault; Staruk averages a score of 9.825 while Kenney averages 9.783 and leads all-around competitors with an average score of 38.608.
Bridgeport recorded four scores in the 9.800s during their latest competition.
