The Penn women's gymnastics team is ready and rearing to go as it faces a formidable Cornell squad this weekend.
"Cornell had a very strong season last year," Penn coach Tom Kovic said. "And they picked up some strong recruits."
Kovic said his strategy at the meet will simply be to "put our best team in to win."
The best team the Quakers have will be somewhat shorthanded without senior co-captain, Juliana Mariani,-- will sit out the meet after being injured in practice yesterday.
Co-captain Lauren Hittner, who competes in the all-around, tore her ACL last year, but will be back in the lineup this weekend.
"[Lauren] will make a huge difference," Kovic said."Not just scoring, but also confidence wise.
"We've got a leader in her."
Her leadership will be essential as this meet will be the first at the collegiate level for many of the freshman on the team this year.
Leah Moon is one of these novice freshman. Despite the fact that it is her first competition, she does not seemed to be worried due to the strong bond the team has formed.
"I think we're really together, she said. "And [we're] very supportive."
Like all freshman, she does not know what to expect, but is ever-hopeful that the team will win.
The team's overall goal for the meet this weekend is to start off the season with everyone competing well.
"We want this weekend to set a precedent for other teams," Christy Green said.
Green competes in the bars, floor and vault events with a career-high of 9.7 in both the floor and the value events.
She feels that the team has a lot of advantages on and off the mats this season.
"Our team is really close and stronger this year."
How this will carry them until the championships at the end of February is still yet to be determined.
"They [still] have to remember to keep an eye on the big picture," Kovic said. "We've taken our licks early on, but that's okay. We're being smart and calculating about the season."
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