Colonials Capture Fifth Place at the World Challenge Cup for Juniors

(March, 2007) Representing the United States for the first time at the World Challenge Cup for Juniors, the Colonials finished fifth out of seventeen teams. The competition was held at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham, England. The arena was packed and the fans cheered exuberantly. The Colonials were in seventh place following the short program but moved up two spots after the free skate on the strength of the fourth highest technical element score. The Colonials free skate performance to music from the Broadway play Wicked was clean and fast. Skating across the ice as a block of three lines, the skaters alternated between hold and no-hold steps whose power and energy grew as they moved from one end of the rink to the other. Various Moves in the Field were also a highlight, with long sustained Spirals, Spread Eagles and Ina Bauers.

Also representing the United States, the Chicago Jazz won the bronze medal for the second consecutive year. Together, the Colonials and the Jazz had the best ever overall showing for the United States at the World Challenge Cup. The two teams were the embodiment of camaraderie and sportsmanship and represented the United States with dignity befitting international competitors. Team Fintistic (Finland) won the gold medal and Les Supremes (Canada) won the silver medal.

Summing up the experience, Merita Mullen, the Director of Synchronized Skating for the Colonials, said that "we went to World Challenge Cup for Juniors to skate two clean programs and to show the World Synchronized Skating community that we should be factored into the equation of the best teams in the world. And, we wanted to love being 'Wicked!' All our goals were met, we felt as if we capably represented the United States Figure Skating Association, and my graduating seniors have a perfect ending to their many years of dedication to me and The Colonials."

Financial support for the Colonials Junior team participation in the World Challenge Cup was provided by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, the Colonial Figure Skating Club and the Nashoba Valley Olympia Figure Skating Training Center.

The Colonials Synchronized Skating Teams skate out of the Colonial Figure Skating Club in Acton, Massachusetts. Merita Mullen (Wayland, MA) is the Director of Synchronized Skating at the Colonials. She is joined by Assistant Coach Nancy Schricker and Intern Coaches Lindsay Howie and Colleen Rafus. Jane Gruber is the Physical Therapy and Fitness Coach. Amy Boucher coaches the Adult Masters team and new Assistant Coach Nancy Rossi assists Merita with the Senior team.

The Colonials website at www.ColonialSynchro.org is an excellent place to keep track of the latest Colonials news. Photos from the competition will be available from the News & Results page of the website.

About the Sport of Synchronized Skating

Synchronized skating is the newest discipline of figure skating, having started 50 years ago by Dr. Richard Porter in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is a specialized branch of skating distinct from figures, free skating, ice dancing or pair skating. It involves eight to twenty skaters on the ice at the same time, and is characterized by intricate formations and maneuvers, footwork, changing arm and hand holds, deep edges, sharp changes of direction and absolute uniformity.

Programs are judged for technical difficulty and presentation (artistic impression). On the junior and senior levels, teams are required to perform a short program and a free skate. At all the other levels, teams only perform a free skate. In the U.S., synchronized skating teams compete in U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned competitions in 15 levels. The levels are differentiated by the age, skill level and the number of skaters on each team.

Jeff Sokolov
Publicity Chair ( Publicity@ColonialSynchro.org )
Colonials Synchronized Skating Teams