UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania gymnastics team opened its season with a second-place finish at the Penn State tri-meet Sunday at Rec Hall.
 
Jordan Barrow scored a career-best 9.800 on the bars and Skyelar Kerico tied a previous career-high on the vault with a 9.850.

Marissa Lassiter made her debut in the all-around, scoring a 38.875, good for third among all competitors. In her first career appearance on the balance beam, she scored a 9.750. 
 
With a mark of 194.725, the Red and Blue recorded their highest season-opening score in program history, but were beat out by #21 Penn State (195.775) and knocked off New Hampshire (192.025).
 
BEAM | Penn 48.700
Penn got off to a strong start on the vault, led by freshman Manama Fofana. In her first collegiate rotation, she scored a 9.800. Junior Alisha Werlen finished right behind her with a score of 9.775, followed by Marissa Lassiter at 9.750. Carly Oniki placed fourth with a score of 9.725. Jordan Barrow made her debut on the balance beam, scoring a 9.650.
 
FLOOR | Penn 48.800
The floor exercise was the highest scoring rotation for Penn. All five Quakers scored a 9.700 or better. Zara Gazdak paced the team at 9.825, while Skyelar Kerico reeled off a 9.750. Fofana and Emma Davies both earned scores of 9.725 and Lassiter rounded out the group with a 9.700.
 
VAULT | Penn 48.650
Kerico tied a career-high of 9.850 which she set the last time Penn traveled to Penn State in 2023. Lassiter placed second with a score of 9.775 as Barrow trailed right behind her at 9.725. Isabel Song and Fofana both scored a 9.650.
 
BARS | Penn 48.525
The Red and Blue ended the day off strong on the uneven bars, led by Kerico's 9.825. Barrow was second with a career-best 9.800. Oniki finished third at 9.700. Lassiter (9.650) and Gazdak (9.550) rounded out the top five.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn's 194.725 is the highest score to start a season in program history.
*Four different Quakers—Manama Fofana (9.800) on beam, Zara Gazdak on floor (9.825), Skyelar Kerico on vault (9.850) and bars (9.825), and Jordan Barrow on bars (9.800)—finished with scores of 9.8 or better.
*Kerico's 9.850 on the vault is tied for the fourth-highest score in program history. She finished first overall in vault, tied for second in bars and fifth on the floor exercise.
*Marissa Lassiter finished fourth overall in vault (9.775) while Barrow tied for ninth place (9.725).
*Barrow's career day on the uneven bars was good for fifth overall with Carly Oniki securing eighth place (9.700).
*In her first career meet, Fofani earned a top-five placing on the balance beam with Alisha Werlen (9.775) joining her. Lassiter was knotted up in a three-way tie for eighth place at 9.750.
*Gazdak's 9.825 on the floor exercise secured a podium finish.
 
Up Next
The Red and Blue will stay in B1G country, traveling to Piscataway, N.J. to face off against Rutgers, Towson, and West Chester on Saturday at 1 p.m.