Penn gymnastics Red and Blue Intrasquad competition establishes the atmosphere for the 2025 season

Following a series of impressive performances, especially from fresh talent, at the Penn gymnastics Red and Blue Intrasquad meet on Saturday, the Quakers are ready to defend their GEC three-peat this season. 

Penn gymnastics returned to the Palestra on Saturday for its yearly intrasquad competition. This standard event in NCAA gymnastics allows gymnasts to simulate a competitive environment before the season kicks off and offers spectators a sneak peek of what to anticipate from the team. The meet operates like a regular competition, with the 23 gymnasts divided into two teams—the Red team and the Blue team—to wrestle against each other for practice. Here’s how the team lineups were organized:

The Blue team commenced on the vault while the Red team kicked off on the beam. 

Despite a few wobbles during their beam routine, which has usually been a strong event for the Quakers, nerves were evident. Freshmen Sienna Zuccaro and Skylar Goodstadt stood out with strong performances amidst their more seasoned teammates who faced challenges on beam, scoring 9.525 and 9.600, respectively. The Blue team’s vault rotation impressed, with all athletes scoring between 9.500 and 9.800. Sophomore Jordan Barrow achieved the highest score with near-perfect execution and a solid landing.

The teams then swapped events for the following rotation.

The Red team delivered a somewhat weaker performance on vault but matched their competitors with scores ranging from 9.45 to 9.75. Freshman Manama Fofana’s performance indicated she would be a valuable asset in regular season competitions.

The Blue team faced challenges staying on beam as well, but managed to secure two scores that outperformed their rivals. Both junior Skyelar Kerico and freshman Mimi Fletcher achieved a 9.700 with excellent landings. Kerico is a reliable member of the vault lineup, and it appears she will soon be joined by her intrasquad teammate.

After finishing beam and vault, the gymnasts transitioned to floor and bars.

The Red team initiated its floor rotation with three new participants in the event. Junior Alyssa Rosen, senior Marigold Garrett, and sophomore Reganne Cheang did not compete on the floor last year, but they might be competing for spots left vacant by graduating team members, each recording some of the top scores for their team with scores of 9.600, 9.600, and 9.550, respectively. Fofana captivated the audience with a performance set to Michael Jackson hits, while junior Marissa Lassiter showcased her crowd-favorite routine impressively. Senior Zara Gazdak achieved the top score for the team with a 9.650.

Bars were a notable challenge for the Blue team. Half of the competitors encountered falls, which is unusual for the Quakers. Barrow wowed with a score of 9.725 while junior Alisha Werlen, overcoming nerves, executed a clean landing.

In conclusion, the Red team took the bars while the Blue team wrapped up on the floor.

The Red team’s performance outshined their competitors, with only one fall noted. The top five scores—those that usually count in a standard meet—were consistent with expected outcomes for the team in a regular season showdown, ranging from 9.500 to 9.700.

The Blue team added a vibrant flair to the floor. Werlen’s music selections featured lively tracks like Britney Spears’s “Oops I Did it Again,” while senior Emma Davies honored her home state of Georgia with a country remix. Fletcher anchored the event, achieving the highest score of the round with a 9.750.

Altogether, this meet highlighted two key observations. Firstly, many gymnasts are still adjusting to early-season nerves, and the Red and Blue supporters can only hope these will lessen following this practice outing, as the Quakers feel they have something to prove. 

With three consecutive GEC titles behind them, the Quakers stand as the league rivals and are ready to show why they merited those victories. Fresh talent displayed impressive scores, and returning athletes are focused on enhancing their skills or tackling more complex routines. Regardless of this weekend’s performances, the team has nearly a month to further hone their abilities before their season opener on Jan. 5th at Penn State.