Marissa Rosen and Lizzie Lowe found the confines of the NCAA East Regional less accomodating than cozy Hutchinson Gymnasium.
Two of Penn's best gymnasts, Rosen and Lowe, competed against the nation's best Saturday at the NCAA Northeast Regionals at the University of Michigan.
Rosen, the region's number one seed in the all-around, came in 10th with 38.525.
On bars she tied for 26th place with a 9.50; on beam she placed 26th with a 9.65; on floor 28th with 9.650; and on vault 24th with 9.725.
Lowe tied for 34th on the bars with a 9.30, below her season average of a 9.60.
And neither made the cut to the championship round in Salt Lake City.
In Michigan, Rosen and fellow freshman Lowe were assigned teams since the Quakers just missed qualifying for the meet as a team. Rosen competed with the University of Florida, the top-ranked team in the nation, and Lowe competed with Rutgers, the team that just edged out the Red and Blue for the sixth and final spot.
"It was neat to be with the team we were so competitive with," Lowe said. She also said that the girls joked around with her since the Quakers almost beat out the Scarlet Knights.
Not knowing what to expect before the meet, the gymnasts were a bit more nervous than usual, especially having to compete with some of the more elite teams, but were up for the challenge.
"I actually think it was really motivating to be with [Florida] because I wanted to hit because they were hitting," Rosen said. "They're awesome girls; it was definitely a good experience being with such a great team."
Penn head coach John Ceralde and assistant coach Jessy Smith traveled with the girls, lending support to the two talented freshmen.
"This was a new challenge for them as freshmen to go in there and compete with the number one team in the country," Smith said. "They really stepped up and did their best."
Rosen, for one, came home with at least one big plus - she now has five of the six best all-around scores in Penn history.
Lowe competed in eleven of the twelve meets this season, posting a season best 9.80 at Sacramento State and tying for first on bars at the Ivy Classic with a 9.775.
