INTERCOLLEGIA TE CHAMPIONSHIPS
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WINS SIXTH U.S. INTERCOLLEGIATE TITLE DARTMOUTH DOMINATES, by KRISTIN ZINSMEISTER D
artmouth College (Hanover, N.H.) may be known for be- ing green, but their color was most definitely gold at the
2012 Intercollegiate Figure Skating Team Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 21–22. Competing at Colorado Col-
lege’s Honnen Ice Arena, Dart- mouth posted 130 points, 33 more than the University of Delaware, the event’s silver medalist. “Dartmouth’s win at Inter- collegiate Championships was the end to a great season,” Dartmouth coach Jacki Smith said. “Tere were so many strong skates from other schools, which pushed us to be bet- ter. Every competition we trained harder and skated better, which gave us the confidence and motiva- tion we needed to be prepared the best we could be for Intercollegiate Championships.” From 2004 to 2008, Dart- mouth College accumulated five consecutive Intercollegiate titles, more than any other team, but placed third in 2009, which, coinci- dentally, was the last time the event was held at Honnen Ice Arena. Dartmouth dedicated this sea-
son to Michael McGean, the team’s founding coach and a two-time U.S. ice dancing champion. Te team also paid tribute to Smith, as this was her last season with the team.
“Our goal was to skate our best and no matter what hap- pened, remember the hard work, dedication, friendships made and memories we experienced
Dartmouth College captured the Intercollegiate Championships title. Team members and coaches are (front row, l-r) Joseph Miller, Caroline Knoop, Melissa Li, Isabel Hines, Deborah Lee, Margaret Jessiman, Jacki Smith, Alina Everett, Kirsten Seagers, Iris Yu, and Kelsey Anspach; (back row, l-r) Elana Folbe, Christine Bettencourt, Kristen Nehls, Pinar Gurel, Claire Michaud and Maria Sperduto.
along the way in their collegiate skating careers,” Smith said. “We skated well, stayed focused and enjoyed every minute of the week- end.”
Te University of Delaware
(Newark, Del.) generated 97 points. Although the team won the 2011 title and every eastern intercolle- giate competition this season, the Fightin’ Blue Hens lost their stride at the championships. “It’s always a fierce competi-
tion between Dartmouth, Boston University and Delaware, but at the same time, we’ve developed a strong mutual respect and appreciation for each other,” Delaware coach Joel McKeever said. “Tey [Dartmouth]
deserved it.” In addition to having respect for the other teams, McKeever also has respect for intercollegiate skat- ers.
“A lot of the character traits that I look for in skaters I find in [inter]collegiate skaters,” McKeever said. “Tey have the drive to skate and study, but also push each other in a positive way and, because of that, intercollegiate figure skating has really grown.” “Big Red” Boston University (Boston) placed third, accumulat- ing 80 points. Te two-time Inter- collegiate champion (2009-10) was second after the freestyle portion of the competition, having dem-
onstrated consistently strong short programs and free skates. “We were happy with our sec- ond-place finish after the freestyle events, but knew we were going to struggle in the ice dancing events because we didn’t have enough dancers to keep the momentum going,” Boston University’s coach Andrea Mohns-Brillaud said. “We were excited for Jacki and her Dart- mouth team because they have been runners-up for the past three years, so it was nice for them, especially with Jacki leaving Dartmouth.” University of California Berke-
ley (Berkeley, Calif.), rounded out the top four, with 38 points.
LEAVING ON TOP When Dartmouth won the title this year, it
was a bittersweet moment. Te team was elated with the win, but saddened because it was Jacki Smith’s last competition as coach. After four years with the team, Smith is moving to Duluth, Ga. “My time at Dartmouth has been a great ex-
20 JUNE/JULY 2012
perience,” Smith said. “I am so fortunate to have worked with such talented student athletes on so many levels.” Smith enjoyed the team aspect of intercol- legiate skating and believes that it has made her a better coach. “Intercollegiate figure skaters are not just individuals who compete; they are a team,” she
said. “It was great to watch the skaters support each other and how they knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses.” Smith, who has been coaching for more
than 14 years, will continue to teach at the Geor- gia Figure Skating Club.
— Maria Gellepes
PHOTO BY KRISTIN ZINSMEISTER
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