INSYNCH


The Skyliners junior team performs its gangster hip-hop short program.


spent nearly four years with the company. “I had just retired from competitive skating


and was sort of lost with what to do,” Babb said. “I was doing a little bit of teaching, mostly ice dance partnering. Natalia Dubova (a Russian ice dance coach and former competitive ice dancer) had suggested I try out Ice Teatre.” Babb credits his time with ITNY in making


him the choreographer he is today. “I think Ice Teatre allows skaters to per-


form with creativity,” he said. “It has made me a much better choreographer. I met fantastic peo- ple and it’s helped me be where I am today.” While performing with the company, Babb


met some of the sport’s greats in Kim Navarro, Judy Blumberg, Doug Webster and others.


Accomplished


TRIO REWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSROOM, ON ICE


Recent graduates of Adrian College and


Miami University have received honors from their respective schools as they embark on their graduate studies. Adrian College’s Tricia DeFelice was named


one of the Michigan school’s senior student-ath- letes of the year for 2015–16. She shared the honor with hockey player Chris Leone. Miami’s Tori Al- exander and Stephanie Fukui each received awards from their school in Oxford, Ohio. As a cocaptain of the synchronized skating


team, DeFelice helped lead the Bulldogs in their international debut at the Spring Cup in Milan, Italy, and to their all-time highest placement at the 2016 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. DeFelice also served as cocaptain of the


school’s intercollegiate figure skating team, which achieved a Midwestern Section title in all four years of her undergraduate career. Individually, she captured four national titles, 12 national med- als and three team most valuable player awards. In addition to the senior athlete of the


year award, DeFelice capped her collegiate ca- reer with another department accolade as Best Female Athlete in the inaugural Adrian College Exhibits Excellence in Sport Awards. “Looking back on my four years at Adrian


College, I am astonished to see how far the skating program has come,” DeFelice said. “I came in my freshmen year ready to learn about synchro and continue my skating career on the collegiate level. Never did I imagine what would have come out of this journey. Not only did I put in hours of hard work on the ice, but I made lifelong friends, and now am employed by the college.” DeFelice received a degree in marketing,


Tori Alexander


and will continue her education at Adrian Col- lege by pursuing a master’s degree in sports ad- ministration and leadership. DeFelice will also begin her tenure as the head figure skating coach and second assistant coach for synchronized skating, under Director of Skating Ashley Carl- son.


Alexander, a 2016 graduate, was a member


of the RedHawks senior team for all four years of her undergraduate career. She received the Leeann Grimes Davidge Award, which is awarded to an upper class female student-athlete at Miami for excelling in athletics, academics and leader- ship.


She graduated from Miami with degrees in


microbiology, Spanish and Latin American stud- ies. She is currently studying at the University of Notre Dame for her masters in global health, and will start medical school at Te Ohio State University next year. “Academics may have always come first, but


I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did without the support of my coaches and teammates at Miami,” Alexander said. “Now, six months after graduation, I am no longer skating, but I am able to look back and happily remem- ber all of the experiences I had. “During my time as a RedHawk, I learned


to balance my time, to communicate and to lead by example — all skills I’ve been able to carry over into graduate school and my life today. Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned, however, was to always stay present. Four years flew by, but those four years taught me to cherish every minute of each opportunity I am given. Te lit- tle moments become the greatest memories, and


Tricia DeFelice Stephanie Fukui


my time at Miami is something I will be forever grateful for.” Fukui, also a 2016 graduate of Miami Uni-


versity, skated for the RedHawks all four years of her undergraduate career as member of the ju- nior, collegiate and senior teams. Fukui won the Philip Shriver Graduating Champions Medal of Honor, which is given to a male and female stu- dent-athlete who has won a championship, and who epitomizes love and honor by being a leader on and off the field. She also won the Karin Sherr Award for


synchronized skating, which is given to a skater who excels in athletics, academics, community service, self-development and being part of the team. Fukui graduated from Miami with a degree in zoology with neuroscience and Spanish minors. She is now studying at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the M.D. program. “As a student-athlete at Miami I was given


incredible opportunities to learn, challenge my- self and contribute to others,” Fukui said. “By simply taking advantage of everything Miami had to offer during those four wonderful years, I grew into someone capable of achieving all the goals that had once seemed unimaginable. Now in my postgrad life, I miss the campus, I miss the competitions, I miss goofing around in the lock- er room with my teammates and best friends. But the most important things — the values, skills and relationships I developed at Miami — remain fundamental in my life as I take on the new challenge of medical school and everything beyond.”


SKATING 53


“Tat’s sort of how it all started for me in the coaching world,” Babb said. Ice Teatre was founded by Moira North,


as she saw a need for a place where skating artists could create works that integrate dance, music and art. ITNY is modeled after a dance compa- ny, and many off-ice choreographers come in to work with the professional skaters.


PHOTO BY ED FORTI


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