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A year makes a huge difference for Penn gymnastics coach Tom Kovic. Last January, his team was already saddled with a couple of season-ending injuries. This year, his squad is much healthier and features a very experienced lineup.

"We've got 100 percent of our competition team coming back from last year plus the freshmen, so it's pretty exciting," Kovic said.

Penn returns all 13 of its letterwinners from last year's squad that came within three-tenths of a point of the Ivy Classic title -- which would have been its first in three years.

"I think the difference between this year and previous years is that we actually have an older team," senior Tricia Chan said. "Our whole team from last year is returning and we only have a small number of freshmen that we have to teach things to, so everyone knows what the goal is, we know we want to win, we know what we want to do."

The Quakers' only seniors -- Chan, Christy Green and Cassandra Pare -- will serve as the team's captains. Chan takes on the leadership role for the second straight year.

Pare is one of the Quakers that had her season ended by injury last year, but is healthy at this season's start.

Coach Kovic expressed that his team has set aspiring goals for the upcoming season. Primarily, the Quakers seek to have a healthy season.

The Quakers mapped out their academic goals before their athletic ones. They plan on achieving a team grade point average of 3.4 and having numerous gymnasts selected as Academic All-Americans.

Among their athletic goals, Kovic named winning the Ivy Classic and the ECAC Championships, as well as increasing its regional qualifying score enough to make it to the NCAA Regionals.

"I think that they're definitely attainable," Green said. "Especially with last year with the Ivy Classic, we came very close to winning and this year we want to get it done and get that ring."

Along with the senior leadership, this year's squad features the team's most valuable player from last year in junior Leah Moon.

Green also won the honor as a sophomore back in 2002.

Penn kicks off the season tonight at 6 p.m. at Hutchinson Gymnasium with Wilson College as the opponent.

"Wilson is a Division III school, they've improved every single year since they started their program, I think four years ago," Kovic said. "Toby Towson has done a really good job with that team, recruiting better and better talent."

Kovic eyes the season opener as an opportunity to get the most out of his team's depth.

"It's a good first start for us," he said. "From a coaching standpoint, I can spread the assignments around a little more."

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