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Penn freshman Molly SullivanPenn freshman Molly Sullivanspurned ballet for gymnastics atPenn freshman Molly Sullivanspurned ballet for gymnastics atan early age and now is one ofPenn freshman Molly Sullivanspurned ballet for gymnastics atan early age and now is one ofPenn's most promising gymnasts It all started by accident. Four-year old Molly Sullivan was taking ballet, but she just didn't have the necessary grace. So instead, she would tumble and flip across the floor. The teacher noticed Sullivan had talent; it just wasn't necessarily for ballet. So she suggested to Molly's mother that Molly may want to try gymnastics. When she was eight, Sullivan moved to a farm in Jackson, Ga., with her family. Life in rural Georgia was nothing like Miami. None of the conveniences of the city could be found. But more importantly, there was no place to work on gymnastics. Sullivan knew she wanted to continue with gymnastics, so she joined the Peach State Sports Center, in Jonesboro, Ga., a distant suburb of Atlanta. There she got the chance to continue club competition, but the daily forty-five mile trek from Jackson to the Jonesboro was not easy. "I would get to the gym each day at 4:30 p.m. and stay until 8:30 or 9:00," Sullivan said. "Mom would pick me up each day at school with dinner and then stay [at the club] or go to the mall." On Saturdays, Sullivan would have to be at the gym bright and early at 9 a.m. The team would work from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. During the summer, it was more of the same -- practice starting at 9 and lasting until 3, with a five-minute break for lunch. The gym had no air conditioning, a major inconvenience in Georgia in the middle of summer. The daily routine was as hard on Sullivan's parents as it was on Molly herself. But they were always willing to do whatever was necessary. "They've always backed me 100 percent," Sullivan said. "Whatever I've wanted to do, they've been completely supportive." "It was just part of the family," Molly's mother Sabra said. "Molly was so dedicated. If her attitude had changed, it would've been different. But, it didn't seem like a sacrifice. It's all been worth it." Practicing six days a week also kept Sullivan's time for socializing to a minimum. "It was hard and a lot of people wondered how I did it," Sullivan said. "But I didn't think about it. The only thing I got to do was on Friday nights. I'd go straight from practice to the high school football or basketball games." Through it all, she never lost interest in the sport. "I never considered giving it up," she said. "You get frustrated at times with gymnastics. But I loved it too much to give it up. I'm sure when I'm 64 I'll still go to the gym sometimes." Sullivan's work ethic really started to pay off when she reached high school age. She reached the national championships each of her four years, an accomplishment requiring success through a long process of local, state and regional tournaments. Each year, Sullivan made it to the finals. As a freshman, Sullivan placed seventh on the uneven bars. And as a sophomore, she placed fourth on the floor. Her junior year resulted in one of the biggest thrills of Sullivan's gymnastics career. A team of Georgian all-stars, of which Sullivan was a part, won the national championships. Sullivan placed 12th on vault in the first-place finish. As a senior, she placed fifth on vault, aiding Georgia to a fifth-place finish. Penn coach Tom Kovic first started to recruit Sullivan over the summer of 1994. By early October, Kovic was talking to every week. Eventually Sullivan's decision came down to Penn, Cornell, William & Mary and Georgia. But when she visited campus over the weekend of Penn Relays, Sullivan realized that Penn was the place for her. Sullivan's influence on the team has been apparent from the beginning of the season. "She's a remarkable individual," Kovic said. "She's very focused. She's very goal-oriented, which makes her a leader through example. She's a very enjoyable athlete to work with." "She's a definite energy booster," Quakers captain Lori Taylor said. "She's always peppy, and she really picks everybody up."

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