PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania gymnastics team fell less than a tenth of a point behind its season high, totaling 193.825 on Sunday afternoon to place third of four at The Palestra. West Virginia, who averages a score inside the top 25 nationally, won the Pink Meet with a score of 195.250, Bridgeport edged Penn for second with 194.775 and Temple finished fourth with a score of 193.575.
VAULT
Penn started on the vault, which ended as the Quakers' lowest score of the afternoon, and put up four scores of over 9.500, led by Ava Caravela and Caroline Moore each with a 9.675. Moore's score matched her season high, while Caravela now has three vault scores of at least 9.600. Lauren Joost added a 9.575, Nicole Swirbalus earned a 9.525, her best of the season and Valerie Rube rounded out the top five with a 9.350.
BARS
For the second consecutive week, Penn recorded its highest total of the season on the uneven bars, this time with 48.775, just half a point from matching the fifth-best total in program history. Once again, Jordyn Mannino led the way for the Quakers with a 9.850, tying the fifth-best score ever. It's the second week in a row the sophomore has eclipsed the 9.800 threshold after earning a 9.825 last weekend. Caroline Mitsch and Rose Hoffman each garnered a 9.750, a season best for Mitsch and a career high for Hoffman. Alex Kothe picked up a 9.725 and Allison Frommer rounded out the top five with a 9.700, the fourth time in five meets she has hit at least a 9.700.
BEAM
The Quakers combined for another strong showing on the balance beam, totaling a 48.550. Joost was first, scoring a 9.600, her second-best score of the year. Darcy Matsuda continued her solid season with a 9.650 while Swirbalus and Natalie Yang were given a 9.750. That matched Swirbalus' season high and now Yang has earned at least a 9.700 in each of the five meets in 2019. Caroline Moore wrapped up the rotation with a 9.800, the third time with at least a 9.800 this year.
FLOOR
Much like the performance on bars, Penn picked up another season high on floor for the second straight week. The Quakers finished with 48.700 and each of their top five had at least a 9.700. Freshman Sydney Kraez led the way with a 9.800, matching her career high and she's scored at least a 9.700 all four times she's competed on floor. Mannino and Caravela both earned a 9.750. Caravela, a freshman, hasn't scored less than a 9.700 in her career and it was Mannino's third time with at least a 9.725 this year. Matsuda and Moore rounded out the five with 9.700's, a season best for them both.
WHAT'S NEXT
Next Sunday, William & Mary will arrive in University City for the Rumble & Tumble event, starting at 1 p.m., when gymnastics will share The Palestra with wrestling.
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