Gymnastics Has Rough Start to Season in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Penn gymnastics team had a disappointing start to their season at the GW Invitational on Sunday in Washington, D.C. The Quakers finished fourth as a team with an overall score of 189.575. The other teams that competed were host George Washington (1^st place – 193.425), North Carolina (2^nd place – 192.950), Cornell (3^rd place – 190.300), and Temple (5^th place – 187.500).

Highlights on the day for the Red and Blue included Dana Bonincontri placing first on the uneven bars with a 9.875 and placing fourth on floor with a 9.750. Kirsten Strausbaugh placed second on floor with a 9.775 and Megan Milavec finished third on beam with a 9.750.

Overall, it was actually a subpar day for Bonincontri and Strausbaugh – they finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the all-around – as both found themselves stumbling to shake off the early season rust. Both girls are normally spectacular on the beam, and if it were not for a fall in each of their routines, they would have placed accordingly.

Bonincontri had an outstanding routine, but an abnormally timed fall at the end of it dropped her score significantly. Strausbaugh, on the other hand, expected her lower score as she attempts to master a new skill on beam; the further into the season she goes and the more practice she gets, history shows that she will eventually master it.

The woes continued on vault as Milavec and Carissa Lim both stumbled to their finishes as well. During their bar routines, Milavec, Elyse Shenberger, and Amber Woo each fell, causing their scores to drop considerably. But the day wasn’t all bad for Shenberger, as the freshman had impressive collegiate debut. Shenberger started on beam for the Quakers as the first competitor of the entire meet, and placed sixth with a 9.725. In addition, despite a couple slip ups on vault, Woo turned in a seventh place finish on beam with a 9.700.

The Quakers will be back in action on Jan. 19 when they travel to New Brunswick, N.J. for a 1:00 p.m. tri-meet with host Rutgers, Birdgeport, and Ursinus.

FULL RESULTS:

Team Standings:

1. George Washington – 193.425

2. North Carolina – 192.950

3. Cornell – 190.300

4. Penn – 189.575

5. Temple – 187.500

Vault: 46.650

7. Dana Bonincontri – 9.700

t19. Amber Woo - 9.525

t19. Kirsten Strausbaugh - 9.525

27. Carissa Lim - 9.175