Freshman gymnast Lauren Markowitz scorched her competition with a 9.650, placing first in vault. Her performance helped the Quakers claim second place at the Ivy Classic last Sunday in Providence, R.I.
Cornell won the competition with a score of 188.250, with Penn closely following in second with 188.050. Yale and host team Brown finished third and fourth, respectively, with scores of 187.675 and 185.500.
The Quakers were able to improve on their third place finish from last year.
After coming off a win last week at home, the Quakers were ready for the challenge of facing their Ivy League foes. Battling through a tough start to the season, with two straight losses to Rhode Island and Yale, Penn bounced back and has won its past three three competitions.
The Quakers came into the meet with season-ending injuries to some of their top gymnasts. Sophomore Kimberly Chin is out with a knee injury and freshman Stephanie Navarro suffered an injury to her elbow.
"We went into this meet limping with injuries," coach Tom Kovic said. "So for the team to do as well as they did, I'm extremely proud."
According to Kovic, Penn had a very good start to the meet as it scored a 47.5 on vaulting. Kovic also said he thought Markowitz performed brilliantly on vault as well as the rest of the team, garnering the highest score in the event. Freshman Jordan Brewer placed third individually on vault with a 9.55.
Penn was a little flat on its second rotation, the uneven bars. Freshman Katie Riggleman-Thomas had to be pulled from the competition for the uneven bars, with a hyperextended knee in warmups. But the team was able to rally back and put up a score of 46.225, as senior Emily Petkun placed fifth on the uneven bars.
Kovic thought that the team actually had a superb performance on the balance beam scoring 47.975, even though that has been the Quakers' greatest weakness this season. Penn had a tough start on beam as Brewer placed third. Senior Desirae Gaspero placed fourth, while senior Laura Duros, and freshman Kerri Lutfey both placed sixth.
On its last rotation, the floor exercise, the Quakers finished strongly but not by enough to surpass the Big Red for a win.
Despite trouble on the balance beam, Petkun placed fourth on the floor exercise and fifth in the all-around competition with a 37.35.
"We wanted them to get in and give their best effort," Kovic said. "And I believe for today they did just that."
