NOVICE | 2012 U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS ICE MATES by JOSH ELLIS Records are meant to be broken,
but in the novice event the Ice Mates set a new standard that could stand for a while. With 81.48 points, the group from Hayden Recreation Centre FSC in Lexington, Mass., not only earned a third straight gold medal, it set a new record by more than five points. “I never thought it would have
been that great,” coach Saga Krantz said. “Te skate was beautiful and I think that this score means that all the work we put in and all the focus we had really paid off.” Skating to a selection of songs
from the Blues Brothers, the Ice Mates received positive grades of execution for each of their eight elements, in- cluding 6.63 points for a level four circle, the highest mark of the compe- tition. Tey received 38.39 points for their elements and a component score of 43.09. Te total score tops the pre- vious record mark of 75.79 points by the Crystallettes in 2009. “Tis was so amazing,” team member Jessica Zhu said. “We have
ICE MATES
worked hard and 81 is a big number.” Krantz only poked her head out
from behind the curtains rather than joining her team in the kiss and cry. She waited to greet them after one of the more memorable performances in her coaching career.
“Tis was something new and something different,” Krantz said. “Te girls had a lot of fun and this was definitely something I’ll remember forever.” Team Braemar (Braemar-City of Lakes FSC) earned the silver medal with 66.38 points, as positions two through six were separated by fewer than five points. Skating to a medley of circus
songs, Team Braemar — dressed in blue as “sophisticated clowns” — gen- erated the second-best element score of 28.72 points, which included a lev- el four circle that earned 5.20 points. Te program, however, took some
time before it caught on with the team. “Tis program was definitely something different, and I think at
the beginning they weren’t too thrilled about it, but the more and more we got into it and I explained the story, the better they felt about it. We have had a great time skating to this all year,” coach Pam May said. Earning the bronze medal were
the Hockettes (Ann Arbor FSC), who earned 65.03 points for their Beauty and the Beast skate. “We are really proud of the way
they skated,” coach Erin Donovan said. “Tey had great energy, which grew throughout the program. Tis was really exciting for the girls.” Te Hockettes were dressed in
yellow with silver tiaras on their heads, and the crowd responded to the famil- iar music that filled the arena. “Not only is skating a sport, but
it’s a performance,” Donovan said. “I think the music allowed them to take the performance side on and involve the audience like they did.” Te Crystallettes (Dearborn FSC) earned the pewter medal with 63.69 points.
novice MEDALS
GOLD Ice Mates 81.48
SILVER Team Braemar 66.38
BRONZE Hockettes 65.03
FOURTH Crystallettes 63.69
SKATING 15
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