Ice Mates regain their hold on division
by MIMI WHETSTONE Two falls were not going to
stop the Ice Mates. Neither were injuries, a new team dynamic or anything else. Despite a season of challenges, the team recaptured the novice title for the 15th time. “We have several new mem-
bers, and we’ve overcome a lot of injuries as well,” Ice Mate Stephen Murray said. “We’ve really come together and gelled so well as a team this year. It’s an incredible feeling that I can’t even put into words. We’re together.” Met with a roar of applause at
the beginning and end of their per- formance, the crowd favorites sa- vored every moment on the ice to a medley of elegant music, including “Once Upon a December.” “I’m so proud,” third-year Ice said. “Te
Mate Allyson Bartels
teamwork we have is just amazing. So many of my teammates are my friends. A lot of us came in from other teams, but we’ve really come together and become friends this year. We’re all open to each other and we’re really and truly friends. We have a lot of fun.” Receiving a Level 4 on nearly half of their elements, the Massa- chusetts-based team’s total element score of 30.60 bested the field by more than a point. Despite the
30 APRIL 2014
falls, the Ice Mates reclaimed the gold after being left off the novice podium in 2013.
Te defending champion
Crystallettes performed a fun and sassy routine to music from the Burlesque soundtrack. Despite two deductions for falls, the Dearborn FSC representatives held on to win the silver, their 12th trip to the U.S. synchronized novice podium. “It wasn’t our best skate, but
we’re really happy with how things ended up,” third-year member Al- ison Panek said. “We’re happy to be here, and to get a medal is an amazing experience, especially be- cause there are skaters on our team who haven’t ever been to nationals before.” “We want to go out there and
be our best,” Erin Quigley added. “We want to be the best skaters we can be. We didn’t have our best skate today, but we did the best that we could together, and that’s important.” Representing the SC of New
York, the Skyliners successfully de- fended their bronze medal to mu- sic from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Te third-place finish ties the team’s highest-ever placement at the U.S. Synchronized Champi- onships.
“I think all the hard work that
we put in throughout the season got us where we are,” Gabby Pe- rez said. “If we hadn’t worked that hard, we wouldn’t be here, and we’re so proud of what we did.” “All of our hard work paid
off,” Alana Resnick echoed. “We’ve really grown as a team, and that helps us. We’ve worked a lot on our edges, making sure we’re together and that our posture and expres- sion are where they need to be. It’s important to have a big presence on the ice.” Finishing fourth were the
Synchroettes of the Essex SC of New Jersey, whose western-themed program included sections of “Du- eling Banjos” and “Te Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Te skaters
showed an abundance of emotional excitement when their scores were read, giving the team its first U.S. medal at the novice level.
GOLD
Ice Mates, 65.70
SILVER
Crystallettes, 63.91
BRONZE
Skyliners, 60.85
PEWTER
Synchroettes, 58.61
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
novice
ICE MATE S
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