Good morning, Penn.
Welcome back to Quaker Nation, Penn's premier sports newsletter.
With the new year, out goes the old and in comes the new. As our former Sports Editors Walker Carnathan and Vivian Yao move onto greener pastures, new editors now take up the mantle of producing Penn's best newsletter. Valeri Guevarra and I, Sean McKeown, couldn't be more proud to be your new anchors for all things Penn sports.
In this week's edition, we have a focus on Penn's athletic programs over winter break. While most students have been getting some much-needed R&R, Penn men's and women's basketball have been working hard on the hardcourt as they face the start of Ivy League play. On top of this, despite Penn football ending its campaign, there have been plenty of upheavals in the offseason.
Without further ado, let’s start this year off with the latest stories from DP Sports:
Star in the making: Following a star-studded career as defensive tackle with the Quakers, during which he won Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, Joey Slackman has declared for the NFL draft after ending his collegiate career with the Florida Gators.
A fall from grace: Penn men's and women's basketball both lost their Ivy League openers — marking deflating starts to their in-conference seasons.
Jumping-hot start: In an unprecedented start, Penn gymnastics set a program record for the highest-ever score in a season opener.
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Photo by Uma Mukhopadhyay
FOOTBALL
Ivy League set to participate in FCS playoffs in 2025 season
In what may be the biggest shake-up in Ivy League football since its conception in 1954, the league is set to allow its participants to compete in the FCS postseason for the first time in history. Ensuing Ivy League champions will now have automatic bids to the FCS playoffs, which allows Ivy League teams to officially vie for national championships. The league has had a self-imposed ban on postseason participation in favor of focusing on academics as a founding principle, but in an ever-changing football landscape, the Ivy League has chosen to step into the future for 2025.
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Photo by Weining Ding
FOOTBALL
Malachi Hosley of Penn football set to transfer to Georgia Tech
In a homecoming for the ages, Penn football is sad to see its star running back Malachi Hosley leave for his home state of Georgia to play for the Yellow Jackets. In a new world of NIL deals and transfer eligibility, the Ivy League will see one of its best talents leave for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
FOOTBALL
Penn football's Malachi Hosley wins Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year
To make his departure all the more bittersweet, Hosley left the Red and Blue with a parting gift: the Bushnell Cup. Named the best offensive performer of the 2023-24 season, the bell cow running back was ranked fourth in the entire FCS in rushing yards per game while leading the Ivy League in rushing yards by over 300.
BASKETBALL
1953 Wharton graduate and NBA champion Ernie Beck dies at the age of 93
A legend of the highest order, and arguably the greatest player in Penn men's basketball history, passed away over winter break just a day after his 93rd birthday. Ernie Beck is a man who has too many records to list, including the highest scoring average in program history with 25.9 points per game, and will be greatly missed in the Penn community. An NBA first overall pick and collegiate All-American, he will have his name forever echoed in the halls of the Palestra.
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Photo by Weining Ding
GENERAL
A look to the future: Meet five incoming student-athletes in the Class of 2029
From the tracks of New Jersey to the pools of Texas, Penn athletic programs take in freshmen from across America. With each passing year, young athletes join the Red and Blue in hopes of raising their careers above the rest. Read here about five incoming freshman athletes and their journeys toward joining the Quakers.
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Photo by Weining Ding
MEN'S BASKETBALL (4-10, 0-1 Ivy) started out Ivy League play with a loss to Dartmouth, the worst-performing Ivy League team from the 2023-24 season. [READ MORE]
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (9-6) suffered two straight Ivy League defeats to begin conference play, with the team’s second at-home loss to Dartmouth being its first loss to the Big Green since 2015. [READ MORE]
MEN'S FENCING (6-1) and WOMEN'S FENCING (6-2) were not active this past week. They will both return to action Jan. 18 to host the Philadelphia Invitational.
GYMNASTICS started the new year with two meets, one at Penn State and one at Rutgers. The team claimed a second-place finish in Happy Valley, Pa. [READ MORE]
NO. 1 MEN'S SQUASH (11-0) competed twice over break. The team has held onto its No. 1 ranking with victories over Trinity and Yale.
NO. 7 WOMEN'S SQUASH (8-1) did not boast the same fate as the men's team, losing a match to No. 1 Trinity before defeating Yale. The team is now ranked No. 7 nationally, dropping from its previous position of No. 5.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING (2-5, 1-5) competed at a tri-meet against Dartmouth and Yale. The Red and Blue ended the meet with a record of 1-1 after losing to the Bulldogs. Senior Matt Fallon dominated in his specialty, finding victories in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING (7-3, 3-3) also competed against Yale and Dartmouth on Jan. 11 — the women's squad similarly fell to Yale while picking up a win against Dartmouth. Junior Anna Moehn shined brightest for Penn, winning a pair of races in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle, respectively.
STAT OF THE WEEK: In an impressive start to the season, Penn gymnastics broke the program record for highest score in a season opener with a score of 194.725.
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Stay tuned for coverage on thedp.com and on Instagram, @dailypennsports.
JAN. 17
Gymnastics quad meet
JAN. 18
Men’s basketball vs. Cornell
JAN. 18
Women’s basketball at Cornell
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Today's newsletter was copy edited by Jessica Huang.
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