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If Marissa Rosen keeps this up for two more years, she will earn her place in Quakers history as one of Penn's best gymnasts.

As a freshman, Rosen won an Ivy Classic individual title on the beam, a performance she followed this year by claiming an individual title on the vault.

The stellar sophomore followed her Ivy Classic showing with a gander at the record books on March 12 - against Towson and William and Mary, her 9.800 tied for the second-highest vault score in Penn gymnastics history.

Yet individual accolades like Rosen's and those of stud contributors Elise Bowe and Jordan Brewer have been the highlights during a gymnastics campaign that is best characterized as a letdown.

After dealing with various injuries through the start of the season, Penn finally found its stride in the meet before the Ivy Classic, and has maintained its form since - the team's four highest scores of the season have come over the past four matches.

Ironically, Penn hasn't won once over that span. It looks to change that today at Hutchinson Gym against Rhode Island, in Penn's last meet before the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.

The Rams have put together a solid campaign in their last season in Kingston, with an impressive resume of first- and second-place finishes against strong competition.

Ominously, a number of the teams that have trumped Penn - Yale, Rutgers, Ursinus and Brown - are teams that Rhode Island has itself defeated, proof the Rams will be no easy foe.

Like Penn, Rhode Island's strength lies in outstanding underclassmen.

Sophomore Ananda Fraser is listed as an all-around gymnast, but she specializes on the floor and vault.

Fraser has not scored lower than a 9.550 on the vault all season, and frequently brings 9.700-caliber routines to the floor.

Rhode Island's answer to Marissa Rosen, freshman Danielle Riportella, is a dangerous all-around performer. This season, Riportella has posted highs of 38.650 and 38.550 in the all-around, in a quad meet against Illinois State and Penn opponents Rutgers and Ursinus.

As if Rhode Island's potent lineup weren't enough of a challenge, the Rams may also be tumbling with a chip on their shoulders. The University of Rhode Island administration recently decided to decommission the gymnastics team, citing a lack of interest - next year, women's lacrosse will be introduced to take its place.

Now, with four meets left for the Rams gymnasts, the time will never be better for them to leave it all out on the mat.

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