Injury-plagued Penn gymnastics defeated by North Carolina

With the season soon coming to a close, the injured Penn gymnastics team is trying to stay strong.

Even with a solid score of 191.525 in this weekend’s matchup against North Carolina, the meet did not end in the Quakers’ favor.

The Quakers came out strong on the uneven bars. Seniors Kirsten Strausbaugh and Dana Bonincontri led the team with seventh and eighth -place finishes, scoring 9.775 and 9.750 respectively. With a final score of 48.500, this was the highest scoring event for the team this weekend.

The team then moved to the vault. Freshman Carissa Lim continued to be one of the team’s strengths, as she placed fourth with a solid score of 9.650.

Beam and floor had more disappointing outcomes. In the beginning of the season, the Red and Blue seemed to have trouble putting up strong scores on beam despite the apparent talent and depth on this event.

“We had two falls on floor — Carissa Lim and [sophomore] Amber Woo,” coach John Ceralde said. “We had to count a fall on beam and floor towards our score.”

For junior Keolamau Yee, the result was bit different. Though she has been struggling with injury this season — competing only on beam this weekend — she helped out the team with a third place finish and a score of 9.675.

“Keolamau is doing [really] well coming back from her injury,” Ceralde said.

On the upside, Bonincontri is gradually returning to competition after an injury earlier this season. Her performance was a boost to the Quakers’ scores and morale.

“Dana did a good job this weekend competing on beam and bars,” Ceralde said. “She did pretty [well] for still being injured.”

Despite the disappointing finish, the overall score was actually one of the better ones this season.

“We are pretty much along our average for the year, and this score will actually help our [regional qualifying score] and knock out one of our lower scores to qualify for nationals,” Ceralde said.

Something good like this for the Quakers will be one of the more positive moments in a season marked by its injuries.

“We are trying to be consistent but we are also coming back from injuries — they are still competing a little bit injured,” Ceralde said. “Now we just have to prepare for our ECAC Championships next week.”

The team’s attention is focused on this big meet, which will take place in Ithaca this Saturday at noon

SEE ALSO

Peaking at 16: the reality of Penn’s female gymnasts

Brief | Penn gymnastics falters at Ivy championships”

Penn gymnastics seeks Ivy Classic three-peat

Penn gymnastics posts season-highs for all events in loss

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