Moon tabbed as 2003 Penn Gymnastics MVP
After a season which saw her score career-highs in each of the four events at the Ivy Classic, sophomore Leah Moon was named MVP of the Penn Gymnastics team for the 2003 season.
Following Christy Green's victory a year ago, this is the second-straight season a sophomore has won the award.
In the Palestra at the Ivy Classic on March 2, Moon had her best performance of the season. She grabbed third overall in the beam, the vault and in the all-around competition to lead the Quakers to 192.0 points and a second place finish.
While Moon's award was the headliner for the Quakers, she was not the only honoree.
Sophomore Corinne Laxman was named the Quakers Most Improved Athlete.
Freshman phenom Desirae Gaespero turned in a stellar rookie year that was capped with the award of Most Consistent Gymnast. Her season highlight was a 9.9 on the floor at the Ivy Classic. That mark tied the third-best score in the event in the Penn program's history.
She becomes the second consecutive freshman to be named most consistent, as Lauren Bouchelle won the honor a year ago.
Indicative of the injuries that plagued the Quakers all season, sophomore Alexandra Chalat received the Ben Franklin Award -- annually given to the most inspirational athlete. Chalat missed four meets early in the season to injury but returned to be a key figure in Penn's lineup. She was named ECAC Athlete of the Week following a score of 9.7 on the floor against Temple.
Senior Christina Morseau received the Coaches Award.
-- Andrew DeLaney
