Rutgers Gymnastics Takes on Penn in Philadelphia
Jan 19 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (January 19, 2012) - Rutgers University gymnastics takes to the road for the second-straight weekend, traveling to Philadelphia to face the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. inside the Hutchinson Gymnasium. The meet will be the final dual competition of the season for the Scarlet Knights.
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"We have been making progress in every event, but we need to correct the little things," said first-year head coach Louis Levine. "We have a group of fighters and competitors on this team and we want to keep progressing and scoring a little bit better than the week before. We also expect to put out a great effort at Penn and show improvement based on what we have been working on."
Last time out, Rutgers (0-2) fell at West Virginia, 193.425-191.650, in an East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) meet. Sophomore Luisa Leal (Cali, Columbia) led the Scarlet Knights, winning the meet all-around title (38.850) for the second-consecutive week. RU scored best on the vault (48.425) as a team and earned all three podium spots on the uneven bars with Leal (9.825), junior Danielle D'Elia (Colts Neck, N.J.) (9.650) and sophomore Alexis Gunzelman (Tabernacle, N.J.) (9.625) all turning in solid performances in the event.
Penn (3-2), a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), opened its season with a third-place finish (189.025) amongst six teams at the Lindsay Ferris Invitational hosted by George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Junior Kristen Strausbaugh, one of two all-arounders used, had a pair of fourth-place finishes on the uneven bars (9.775) and floor exercise (9.700), while senior Laura DiPaolo placed second on the vault (9.750). Head coach John Ceralde is in his sixth season at the helm of the Quakers.
The Scarlet Knights narrowly lead the all-time series, 9-8, using two wins over Penn last year to jump on top. RU defeated the Quakers, 191.725-189.425, at the 2011 Lindsay Ferris Invitational and won 192.050-188.750 in the home-opening quad-meet inside the Livingston Recreation Center. Rutgers has taken the last five matchups, including a 190.725-185.100 victory the last meeting held in Philadelphia in 2010. The series dates back to 1982.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's gymnastics, follow the program on Twitter @RUGymnastics. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
