PHILADELPHIA – The Penn gymnastics team will be back in action this weekend in its first dual meet of the season as the defending Ivy Classic champion. The Quakers finished fourth and third at the GW Invitational and a Rutgers quad-meet, respectively, in their first two meets of the season. They’ve already competed against one Ivy opponent this season, Cornell, as the two participated in the GW Invitational.

Heading into this meet against another Ivy rival, the Red and Blue are riding high on the back of Dana Bonincontri. The senior put forth two outstanding performances in the Quakers’ first two meets, earning ECAC Gymnast of the Week honors after the GW Invitational and finishing first in the all-around at the Rutgers meet.

In addition, co-captain Kirsten Strausbaugh, Makeda Constable, Megan Milavec, and several freshmen will be counted upon to continue contributing to the Quakers overall score. Strausbaugh finished fifth and third in the all-around in two meets. Constable has had a couple quality performances on the uneven bars. Milavec has been contributing in the all-around in the early part of the season, as well.

Finally, freshmen Elyse Shenberger and Carissa Lim have also competed in both meets. Shenberger stood out on the beam in her first meet, opening up competition on the day and placing sixth. Lim stood out on the floor at Rutgers, placing ninth with a career-high.

The two programs met three times last season, with Penn getting the better of the Bulldogs each time. The Quakers traveled up to New Haven, Conn. for their first dual meet of the season in 2012 as well, and defeated Yale 191.224-188.350. The last two times were at last season’s Ivy Classic and ECAC Championships – Penn came away with first place in both instances.

The meet gets underway on Sunday at 1 p.m. in New Haven at Payne Whitney Gym.