PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania gymnastics team locked down their best all-around effort of the season to win the Teal Meet on Sunday at The Palestra with a combined score of 193.900, the most this season. The Quakers won by 2.775 points as Cornell (190.125) edged Brown (190.100) for second and Ursinus finished fourth with a score of 183.025.
VAULT
Penn led from the first rotation, jumping out to an advantage after its 47.925 combined score on vault. Valerie Rube set the tone early and brought the crowd to life by sticking her landing for a 9.625. Lauren Joost followed her with a 9.500 before senior Caroline Moore laid down a 9.675. Moore's score was matched by freshman Sydney Kraez, who concluded the event after Ava Caravela, another freshman, earned a 9.450. Moore and Kraez tied for the third-highest score in the vault of any gymnast in the field.
BARS
The positive momentum moved with the Quakers as they rotated to bars and Libby Garfoot, Caroline Mitsch and Alex Kothe all garnered scores of 9.650 to lead off. Allison Frommer and Jordyn Mannino, two of Penn's best, came through in a big way to push the Quakers combined score to 48.525, the best on the event this season. Frommer earned a 9.750, the third time she's earned at least a 9.700 in 2019. Mannino set a career-high 9.825 to really create some separation between the Red and Blue and the rest of the field.
BEAM
From one season high to another, Penn went to beam and earned a score of 48.775. Joost kicked it off with a 9.725, the best performance of her career, and igniting a full event in which Penn's top five all earned at least a 9.725. Freshman Natalie Yang also walked away with a 9.725 while Darcy Matsuda scored a 9.775 and Nicole Swirbalus picked up a 9.750, her best of the season. Again, the anchor excelled as Moore dropped a 9.800 to put Penn in perfect position to seal the win.
FLOOR
The day went exactly according to script and it ended as Penn would hope: another season high. Penn scored a 48.675, led by Kraez's 9.800 and Mannino's 9.775. Caravela and Swirbalus also eclipsed the 9.700 mark, scoring a 9.750 and 9.700, respectively. Rounding out the top five was Matsuda's 9.650.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn stays in The Palestra next Sunday, Feb. 10, hosting Bridgeport, Temple and West Virginia.
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