PHILADELPHIA – Back-to-back-to-back-to-back! The University of Pennsylvania scored a 195.700 to beat out the other seven schools to claim its fourth straight Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Championship on Saturday evening at The Palestra.
 
Yale took second with a score of 194.125 followed by Bridgeport in third place (193.150). William & Mary led the first session and placed fourth at 192.975. Cornell (192.925), Brown (192.875), West Chester (192.275) and Southern Connecticut State (191.175) rounded out the rest of the field.
 
The Quakers had the highest team score in three of the four rotations, taking home four individual event titles in addition to their team championship.
 
Skyelar Kerico became the first-ever three-time GEC individual champion, picking up wins on vault, bars and all-around. Her 39.425 in the all-around broke her previous program and GEC record. Jordan Barrow claimed her first GEC individual championship with a first-place finish on the balance beam.

In addition, Penn wins back-to-back de facto 'trebles' after winning all three of the Ivy Classic, GEC regular season, and GEC championship titles in 2024 and 2025.
 
BARS – Penn 49.000
The Red and Blue scored a 49.000 on their first rotation with each individual gymnast improving from the previous competitor. Mimi Fletcher and Marissa Lassiter led off with back-to-back 9.725's. Barrow followed it up with a 9.750. Zara Gazdak finished with a score of 9.800. Sophia Paris scored a 9.825. Kerico anchored the rotation at 9.900.
 
BEAM – Penn 48.825
Barrow's career-high score of 9.875 highlighted Penn's beam routine. Manama Fofana and Kerico both notched a 9.850. Samantha Wu ended the rotation with a score of 9.700.
 
FLOOR – Penn 48.700
Lassiter recorded a 9.800 on the floor. Freshmen Mimi Fletcher and Fofana posted scores of 9.775 and 9.700. Kerico finished at 9.750. In her last GEC Championship, Gazdak scored a 9.675.
 
VAULT – Penn 49.025
Penn saved its best for last – recording the highest vault score of the season. Lassiter led off with a career-high 9.875. Olivia VanHorn and Alisha Werlen notched matching 9.700's. Fofana scored a 9.750. Barrow finished at 9.775. Kerico capped off her historic night with a 9.925 – tying her career high.

Quaker Notemeal
*The conference title is Penn's eighth in program history and fourth consecutive.
 
*Head Coach Kirsten Becker and her coaching staff have led Penn to four consecutive conference championships for the first time in program history.
 
*Becker also has more conference titles than any head coach in the program's history, doing so in all four seasons at the helm.

*Kerico becomes the first Penn gymnast to win three individual conference titles in the same season since Anna Wilson did so at the 2001 ECAC Championships (bars, floor, all-around).

*Kerico has now won five individual GEC titles at Penn - winning the beam and all-around in 2024.

*The junior is the first gymnast in school history with multiple conference titles in the all-around.

*Her 39.425 in the all-around is a new program and GEC record - breaking her previous mark of 39.325. Kerico now has the top seven all-around scores in Penn gymnastics history.

*Barrow picked up her first individual GEC title - scoring a career-high 9.875 on the balance beam.

*In addition to Barrow's first-place title, Fofana and Kerico finished second on beam with a score of 9.850.

*Lassiter was runner-up on vault behind Kerico at 9.875. Barrow picked up a seven-place finish (9.775) and Fofana tied for 10th (9.750).

*Penn had four top-10 placings on bars. Kerico claimed first, Paris received a bronze medal (9.825), Gazdak finished fifth (9.800) and Barrow tied for eighth at 9.750.

*The 49.025 on vault is the best event score this season and fourth-highest in program history. The overall score of 195.700 ranks as seventh-best all-time.
 
Up Next
With the NCAA Championships selection show looming this week, Penn will await its fate both as a team and individually.
 
For the latest on Penn gymnastics, follow @PennGym on X and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.