The Penn gymnastics team became the reigning queens east coast gymnastics after it won the 2004 ECAC Championship title for the first time since 1998.
The Quakers finished with a total team score of 193.65, making it their third-highest overall score in program history.
Held at the Palestra Saturday, the Championships featured Brown, Cornell, James Madison, William and Mary and Yale along with the host Quakers.
Having beaten all the competing teams in previous meets this season, Penn coach Tom Kovic said, "We carried no concerns for our competitors. This season's been a story of never giving in, never being disappointed, rising to the top and ultimately winning. The girls were ready to compete and win. That's why they're champions."
Senior Christy Green and sophomore Laura Duros tied for second place on floor exercise with a score of 9.875. Junior Christina Anzalone placed fourth on the uneven parallel bars, and sophomore Jess Fuerst placed second on both the bars and the beam. Also winning two medals was junior Leah Moon, who placed third in vault and fifth on the beam.
"It was an amazing meet," said Fuerst, who set two personal records on the uneven parallel bars and the beam. "It's all about the team. We had an amazing energy, and we went into this conference knowing we could, should and would win."
The Quakers led throughout the six rotations and were able to build their lead as the meet progressed. After only two rotations, the Red and Blue held only a half-point advantage over Cornell, but ended up more than a full point ahead of the Big Red at the end of the event.
Adding to their list of accomplishments, the Quakers set a third all-time high score of 48.55 on the bars.
But setting new records this season seems to have become increasingly commonplace for the Red and Blue squad. The team has set six record-highs this season, five of which have been broken in the past six weeks.
"It's been such a happy and successful season for us," sophomore Emily Petkun said. "We've worked so hard, and it's all paid off this season. That's the best feeling ever."
Assistant coach John Ceralde was honored with the ECAC Assistant Coach of the Year award after only his third season with the Quakers.
"I knew this year's team was very talented and could accomplish anything," Ceralde said. "The girls are like a family. [Being] there for each other through the good times and the bad, helping and cheering each other on. They've been very strong all season, never gave up, and the coaching staff's very proud."
Captains Green, Tricia Chan and Cassandra Pare completed their final gymnastics season as members of the champions of the Ivy Classic and the ECAC Championship calling the entire season "perfect."
"We set goals and met them. We couldn't have asked for a better group of girls," Chan and Green said. "It was the best way to end our careers. This has been a rollercoaster ride that has ended at the top."
Team scores:
1. PENN 193.650
2. Cornell 192.425
3. Brown 191.225
4. Yale 191.050
5. James Madison 189.900
6. William & Mary 189.875
