Gymnastics earns second in four-team meet

Emerging from a strong season opener, the Penn gymnastics team had reason to be confident. After the Red and Blue tasted victory against West Chester and Ursinus on Jan. 11, the gymnasts traveled to Maryland on Friday for their second meet of the season, set to take on Towson, James Madison and SUNY-Brockport. Their excitement was slightly subdued, however, by a tinge of apprehension. Facing the Towson Tigers -- who finished second at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships last season -- the gymnasts' anxiety was well-justified. "Towson is a very good team," Penn captain Courtney Morgan said. "Just to compete against them is a great experience." Despite the tough competition, the Red and Blue (4-1) surpassed two of their three opponents at the Towson Center. Their final score of 186.35 placed them ahead of James Madison's 185.075 and SUNY-Brockport's 180.325. As predicted, Towson took home the gold with a score of 194.075. The captains were pleased with their teammates' overall performance at Towson. Despite a few errors and unfulfilled opportunities, the team pulled together, and jumped back on its feet to prove that it would not collapse under pressure. Morgan was most pleased with the fact that the girls did not let the few "bumps in the road" upset their performance. "When an athlete does not perform as planned, one of two things can result: the team can fall apart or they can step it up. We really stepped it up," Morgan said. Penn coach Tom Kovic was also impressed with the Quakers' performance. "This was a pretty big win for us," Kovic said. "There is lots of room for improvement. It was a good meet for us. Next week's [vs. Yale at Hutchinson Gymnasium on Jan. 25] will be huge." Improving his record to 102-55, Kovic has reason to be content with his team's performance. Though the team is young, one should not underestimate the capabilities of the underclassmen. This year's roster certainly comprises some of the most talented gymnasts Penn has seen in recent years -- as illustrated by sophomore Christina Azalone's second-best performance in team history against West Chester and Ursinus. While she may be a rookie, freshman Julie Kikla has already proven herself to be an asset to the team. Matching her career-best on the bars, Kikla turned in the Quakers' highest finish of the day, scoring a 9.625 to place fifth. To add to her mounting achievements, she scored a 37.3 in the all-around -- her first-ever collegiate points. "I know how much our new members can help better the team, and I was really glad to see they didn't crack under pressure," Morgan said. The underclassmen chipped in as well, as sophomore Alexandra Chalat and freshmen Emily Petkun and Laura Duros helped the team finish second. Chalat finished eighth with a score of 9.3 in the bars while also placing sixth on the floor, landing a score of 9.65. Petkun's score of 9.5 on the vault and 36.775 in the all-around earned her a sixth-place finish. Duros placed ninth on the beam with a 9.25 in her first collegiate action in the event. "I really think we can do many more big things this year," Morgan said. Penn returns home on Jan. 25, when it hosts Yale for an Ivy League meet. "We are all looking forward to beating Yale, one of our biggest and oldest rivals," Morgan said. "I definitely think we can win the meet."

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