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Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
The Daily Pennsylvanian

For Penn softball, not much has changed in the last two seasons. They have had a strong offense, made several runs at the Ivy Title and had an ace starter named Alexis. But this year, the difference is in the last name. Just a year after graduating perhaps the most illustrious pitcher in program history in Alexis Borden, the Quakers have found a new star in the circle in junior Alexis Sargent. After waiting in the ranks for two years behind Borden, Sargent emerged as Penn's next top starter early in the season, wasting little time in establishing herself as a bona fide ace.

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To make it to the top of any industry, you have to be willing to think outside the box. Fortunately for Penn Athletics, Jim Steel has taken the message. Behind the efforts of the 12th-year Strength and Conditioning Manager, Penn varsity teams have strayed from the status quo in the weight room, adopting an unconventional method to raise themselves to the next level: Muay Thai kickboxing. “I’ve just found that it’s so good for hand-eye coordination, for conditioning it’s unbelievable, and it improves people’s athleticism,” Steel said.

It might be hard to place a finger on it, but Penn Athletics has a slightly different look these days. Throughout the semester, the athletic department has rolled out a series of changes to the Quakers’ branding, including the Champion Your Life campaign formally announced on Wednesday. The culmination of over a year of research and gradual unveiling, the rebranding is part of a holistic effort by Penn Athletics to reinvigorate student interest and reposition itself within the Penn and Greater Philadelphia communities. “Penn Athletics has created a really unique niche in Philadelphia, in the Ivy League and in the nation,” Martin explained.


The new slogan of Penn Athletics, Champion Your Life, was officially unveiled Wednesday to coincide with National Athlete Appreciation Day.

It might be hard to place a finger on it, but Penn Athletics has a slightly different look these days. Throughout the semester, the athletic department has rolled out a series of changes to the Quakers’ branding, including the Champion Your Life campaign formally announced on Wednesday. The culmination of over a year of research and gradual unveiling, the rebranding is part of a holistic effort by Penn Athletics to reinvigorate student interest and reposition itself within the Penn and Greater Philadelphia communities. “Penn Athletics has created a really unique niche in Philadelphia, in the Ivy League and in the nation,” Martin explained.



Stepping in as Penn softball's undisputed ace in her junior year, Alexis Sargent has powered past batters for a 1.68 earned run average in 2016.

For Penn softball, not much has changed in the last two seasons. They have had a strong offense, made several runs at the Ivy Title and had an ace starter named Alexis. But this year, the difference is in the last name. Just a year after graduating perhaps the most illustrious pitcher in program history in Alexis Borden, the Quakers have found a new star in the circle in junior Alexis Sargent. After waiting in the ranks for two years behind Borden, Sargent emerged as Penn's next top starter early in the season, wasting little time in establishing herself as a bona fide ace.


Star outfielder Leah Allen was powerless to stop a dominant performance from Villanova on Tuesday, as the Wildcats scored nine first-inning runs en route to a 10-0 mercy rule win over their local counterparts.

Less than a day after their men’s hoops counterparts won a national championship on an improbable buzzer-beating three pointer, Villanova softball traveled to University City to take on its counterparts from Penn. Unlike the Wildcats’ victory over North Carolina, however, the outcome of this cross-town matchup was never in doubt, with Villanova cruising to a 10-0 decision.



First-year women's rowing head coach Wesley Ng won a pair of national titles at Division-III Trinity, and he plans to similarly change the culture for a Quakers' squad seeking its first-ever Ivy League championship.

In a sport so focused on, quite literally, getting ahead of the competition, Penn women’s rowing coach Wesley Ng has somewhat of an odd philosophy. “We're making sure we're not looking ahead, ever.” For Ng's squad, process comes first, and, for the meantime, racing second.


A strong effort from junior pitcher Adam Bleday helped Penn baseball hold off Lafayette in a 6-5 nailbiter, as the transfer pitched five innings of one-run ball to earn his first career win in a Penn uniform.

The season series between Penn baseball and Lafayette officially goes to the Quakers. Just two weeks after splitting a four-game series with the Leopards, the Red and Blue defeated their Easton, Pa., rivals, 6-5, on the road. Playing in their second game in the Liberty Bell Classic — following a 9-4 loss to Villanova last week — the Quakers (11-12) came out in a hurry on Tuesday.




Penn women's rowing had an entirely different look at the top in 2015, but with new coach Wesley Ng and new recruits, they are ready to go for 2016.

2015 saw plenty of action in and out of the water for Penn rowing for all three teams. One of the three head coaches oversaw his first spring season at the helm.










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