time, felt the support hit a crescendo during its short program. “Seeing red, white and blue flags everywhere,
there were moments where I was like, ‘I don’t even know what’s going on,’” Walker said. “I had to keep refocusing myself to not get caught up in the energy of it all.” Team Unique finally breaks through Team Unique, Finland’s top team this season,
arrived in Boston with something to prove. In the 13-year history of the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, Finland owns six World titles, but it’s been the Rockettes and Marigold IceUnity that have combined to win those pres- tigious crowns. Team Unique, which recently captured its first national title, rallied from fourth place after the short program to win the free skate and overall title by .52 points. “I can’t even describe how proud I am,” Team
that element all season, but in Boston it was re- warded with a score of 7.07, a Level 4 and 1s and 2s for GOEs. Miami placed 10th in the segment with 56.38
points. Te team’s free skate to a medley of 1920s
music was also convincing. Again, the RedHawks’ program was highlighted by their block element, which received maximum credit, as did their an- gled intersection. Teir no hold element and cre- ative element were also well-rewarded. Te RedHawks placed eighth in the segment
for an overall score of 172.01 points. DeGirolamo, one to usually keep her emo- tions in check, was especially touched following the free skate. “It’s definitely in the top
three moments of my coach- ing career,” DeGirolamo said. “It’s unlike anything else to be able to compete for your country in your country. From the crowd to the familiar surroundings to the actual performance makes it very special.” National pride over- throughout the
flowed
event with flags, face paint and high-fives as chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A” filled the arena. While one user on Twitter noted that perhaps the incessant cheers during introductions and exits, blocks, wheels, inter- sections and everything in between could be distracting to the skaters, it was in fact the fans’ enthusiasm that carried all 20 teams through their performances. Taylor Walker, one of
several Miami University se- niors competing for the last
SKATING 13
Unique coach Mirjami Penttinen said. “Tere are two other teams in Finland that are really good; they have been World champions and we have been the only ones without a title. Sometimes it has been the pressure. We just kept working and now we are also World champions. It’s a wonder- ful thing.” Team Unique put out a flawless free skate to
music from Te Help to knock NEXXICE out of first place. Team Unique totaled 208.77 points, while NEXXICE tallied 208.25. Team Unique rallied following a short pro- gram in which it suffered a fall, but took a con- fident approach into the free skate. Skating last, Team Unique knew it had a tough task at hand
after NEXXICE, Haydenettes and Marigold IceUnity all executed nearly flawless free skates. “Today was all about fighting,” team captain
Minttu Palsola said. “We fought our way to the gold medal. Te short program, we had a little bit of difficulty. We knew that if we did a clean (free) skate we could win, and we did. It’s a dream come true.”
Te competition was close from the start. NEXXICE won the short program with 72.84 points for its “Telephone Call from Istanbul” performance. However, its score was barely four points higher than that of the fifth-place team Marigold IceUnity. Te pressure was on each of the top teams to be perfect in order to maintain podium position or sneak up a spot or two. NEXXICE’s beautiful Die Fledermaus free skate earned 135.41 points to open the final group of the night. Tere wasn’t a dry eye on the ice as the Ontario-based team took a bow. Te same went for various Skate Canada personnel watch- ing from the skater entrance.
Co-captain Amy Cebulak noted it was “go- ing to be a long wait” as they stood in first place with three teams left to skate. Tat group also in- cluded Russia’s top team, Paradise, which went on to finish fifth. Despite not being able to hang on to the lead, NEXXICE, seven-time and reigning Cana- dian champions, was proud of its outing in Bos- ton.
“Te performance went really well,” Cebulak
said. “We loved every moment out there. Te fans, were so amazing and I think we took advantage of every opportunity.”
Thousands cheered on the two teams from the United States as well as the other 18 teams that competed in Boston.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60