COLLEGIATE GOLD Miami University, 92.26 SILVER
2013 U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS BRONZE
PEWTER University of Delaware, 84.11 University of Michigan, 77.98 Team Excel, 77.12
Miami University keeps streak alive at 9 with ‘pretty lady’ theme by RENEE FELTON With its members looking every bit like fun
and fl irty college coeds, Miami University’s col- legiate team sailed to its ninth consecutive title. Skating to a mash-up of songs with the “pretty lady” theme, the RedHawks earned 92.26 points to run away with an eight-point victory. “It’s amazing,” senior skater Bianca Pompo-
nio said. “Miami athletics is a culture of cham- pions, and we practice that every day on the ice and in life. We have great teammates and great coaches. T e reward of also having national titles with them is amazing.” T e fact that the program was so much fun
certainly helped the RedHawks’ campaign this season. Coach Carla DeGirolamo wanted to cre- ate a program the skaters “could really sink their
Miami University
teeth into and have a lot of fun with.” Bobbie Jo Sanderson, another senior mem- ber of the team, noted this is the best time she’s had skating with Miami. “Our scores showed how much fun we had
and how hard we work,” she said. “One of my favorite things about competing is knowing that our other teams and parents and fans that don’t skate for Miami stand up and cheer for us. T ey give us energy and help make the performance what it is.” Skaters from the University of Delaware made their 2013 U.S. qualifying competition de- but in Plymouth, Mich., and they did so to good results, winning the silver medal. Most members of the team came down with
a stomach virus on the morning of the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in early February. Event offi cials decided to not allow the ill team to compete. T ankfully, the team was granted a bye to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. “It’s defi nitely been quite a month,” coach
Megan O’Donnell said. “T at day, I emailed the chair of Refl ections competition, an invitational in Hershey, (Pa.,) because I knew that was coming up. T e referee of that event was a judge at Easterns so they allowed us to enter late into the competition. We competed February 18 by ourselves but for a score. T at was good for the team to be able to see where they stand with the judges and tech panel.” Team Delaware earned 84.11 points for its
Queen free skate. “Our goal was to put everything out there
and have no regrets,” Megan McGuiggan said. “We were devastated to not compete at Easterns, but that taught us that competing is a privilege and a blessing; it’s something that should not be taken for granted.” T e University of Michigan, based in nearby
Ann Arbor, repeated as bronze medalists. Netting 77.98 points to edge pewter medalist Team Ex- cel, the Wolverines earned at least fi ve points for four elements including their Level 4 moves-in- the-fi eld sequence. “T is program gave us a chance to interact with the audience and show off a fun and fl irty side,” team president Megan Gueli said. “We were close to home so we had a lot of alumni, family and friends come to support us.”
20 APRIL 2013
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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