2016 U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS Juvenile
New Skyliners get to work, claim crown by MICHAEL TERRY
‘Bonus round’ on the block.
Te competition was all about the new kids Tough the Skyliners (Te Skating Club of
New York), which performed to selections from 9 to 5: Te Musical, has seen the podium before, it returned just three skaters from the 2015 team that won the silver medal. No one knew how things would shake out with this new roster of skaters. But then they won it all. “I’m ecstatic,” coach Natalie Martello said.
“It’s a brand new team. We were hoping at the start of the season to just get to the U.S. Champion- ships. So I said to them, ‘Tis is the bonus round. Go, skate for the moment and enjoy it.’ And they did everything I asked them to do tonight.” Te Skyliners have medaled every year since 2010, including winning titles in 2011 and 2014.
Skyliners (l-r) Sharon Bikvan, Abigail Cohen, Taylor DelCarmine, Alison Quiambao, Serina Wang, Veda Malhotra, Sherlynn Arcuri, Lily Young, Mae Archie, Alexandra Popescu, Mikayla Redmond, Melissa Woo, Katerina Root, Clara Baurmeister, Isabela Malone, Sonya Danchak, Judey DaRos, Celeste Naughton, Jillian Saloma, Gracie Ossorio, Jillian Belluck, Rhianna Gold
It was the team’s work ethic that propelled them to championship level, Martello said. “We’ve worked the hardest this season,” Mar- tello said. “Coming in with a new team, none of them were used to my coaching style. Te hours, the dedication, what you have to give up to be a top-lev- el synchronized skater — it all impressed me.” Te team received eight of nine first-place
ordinals. Teams Elite (Individual member), from
Northbrook, Illinois, finished second after receiv- ing five second-place ordinals or higher. It’s only their third year competing. Teir program set to music from Beyoncé was “fierce and fabulous.” “I’m very happy with how they skated,”
coach Danielle Ostrower said. “Tey’ve battled a lot this season, so to come out and do a great skate
is exactly what we asked for. Tis is probably the sassiest group of girls I’ve ever met, so I thought Beyoncé would be a perfect choice for them.” Chicago Jazz (Chicago FSC), placed third after missing the podium in 2015. Before that, it had been on the podium every year since 2000. Dressed as cans of Coca Cola, the team, which finished with six third-place ordinals or higher, skated a fun, upbeat program, celebrating the company’s 100-year anniversary. “We thought the judges and audience would
really get into it,” coach Kristi Frank said. “We wanted a program that people would enjoy danc- ing to in the stands.” Te Mini Mates (Hayden Recreation Centre FSC) won the pewter medal with seven ordinals of fourth place or higher.
SKATING 23
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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