It's one of the campus' best-kept secrets. But the University's bridge team recently made a name for itself, winning a regional tournament at Drexel University last month. In the tournament, sponsored by the Association of College Unions International on February 24 and 25, the University beat Swarthmore College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology to qualify for the collegiate finals. This qualification entitles the four members to an all-expenses paid trip to Memphis, Tenn., to compete against six other teams for the title of College Bridge Team Champions. Each member of the winning team is awarded a $500 scholarship, according to Jana Jackins, the junior program coordinator in Memphis. The finals will be sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League, which is the "sanctioning body for tournament bridge," Jackins said. The competition, scheduled to take place on May 19 and 20, is a special junior event for full-time students under 26 years of age. They pay a lower yearly rate for dues and participate in tournaments restricted to juniors. The four members of the University's bridge team include graduate student Doug Koltenuk, the team captain; College senior Gwenn Kalow, fourth-year graduate student Jacques Olivier and Wharton sophomore Gregory Robbins. The students said they are excited to have the opportunity to compete in May. However, Olivier voiced some concern over the lack of experience the team has had playing together. "The only problem is that although each player has a lot of experience playing individually, we won't be able to get a lot of practice playing together," he said. Still, Robbins said the team has a good chance of succeeding in Memphis. "I think it's a great opportunity to represent Penn," he added.
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