Fairfield County Skaters Win 3 Medals at Nationals

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – The Skyliners Synchronized Skating team came home with three medals after the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Worcester, Mass., earlier this month. The Juvenile and Junior lines each earned silver medals, and the Intermediate line came in fourth to grab the pewter medal. The Novice and Senior lines both finished fifth, one spot shy of the podium.

The three national medals earned by Skyliners keep them among the top synchronized skating organizations in the country. This year, the Skyliners brought five lines to nationals, the most in the organization’s 11-year history. In addition, the fifth place finish for the Senior team will put them in consideration for recognition on Team USA for the 2012-13 season. The U.S. Figure Skating Association will make a final decision in May.

The Juvenile line, the defending national champion, skated a fast and energetic program to music from "Sister Act." Chicago Jazz won the gold. Juvenile girls from Fairfield County include Stephanie Achoa, Whitney Ellinger, Nathalie Felton and Kathryn Goodfriend of Greenwich; Maddie Zomb of New Canaan; Christine Kao and Christina Landle of Stamford; Kelsey Zarembski of Norwalk; Arielle Belluck of Weston; and Katherine Orlin of Westport.

The Junior line, also the defending national champion, started with its upbeat short program choreographed to Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.” The girls skated as the last performance in the 10-team field. The Skyliners' score of 51.59 left them three points behind Team Braemar of Minnesota. The Lexettes of Lexington, Mass., finished a close third with a score of 50.30.

The Junior division free skate was filled with quality performances. The Skyliners once again skated last, and the leaders, Team Braemar, had already posted a great score of 105.1 for its free skate. The Junior line gave a flawless performance to the music from the movie “The Black Swan." Its score of 106.83 was enough to win the free skate segment of the championship, but the total score of 158.42 was not enough to overcome the point difference after the short program. Team Braemar took home the gold with a total score of 159.65. The Lexettes held onto the bronze medal at 137.87.

The Junior line is preparing to compete at the Junior World Challenge in Goteborg, Sweden, beginning Friday. Girls from Fairfield County on the Junior line include Cos Cob’s Brooke Abbott and Mairead Brock, and Greenwich’s Alexandra Scarpulla.

The Intermediate line brought home the pewter medal in one of the most competitive divisions in the championships. Skating to selections from the Brian Setzer Orchestra, its quick-stepping program earned a score of 54.81, only 3.13 points behind the gold medal earned by the Star Mates of Lexington, Mass.

Intermediate skaters from Fairfield County include Greenwich’s Jordyn Young and Marisa Goff; and Michaela Macdonal and Katherine Orlin of Westport.

The Skyliners Senior line put together two clean skates to earn a fifth place finish in its first year of competing. Senior skaters from the county include Emma Leary of Greenwich and Tara Sarkar of Stamford.

The Novice division was close, with only three points separating second and fifth place. The Skyliners were just 0.25 points from a fourth place finish and earning a spot on the podium. The Novice line includes Greenwich’s Julie Goodfriend and Rebcca Wright; Stamford’s Lily Brouwer, Erin Crutchley and Tina Isola; and Fairfield’s Sarah McCarrick.

Clinics and tryouts for the 2012-13 season start in mid-March and run through April 15. Visit the Skyliners at www.skylinerssynchro.com for details.

The Skyliners support 164 girls across eight lines, with skaters ranging in age from 6 to 22. The Skyliners Senior, Junior, Novice, Intermediate and Juvenile lines represent the Skating Club of New York. The Prepreliminary, Preliminary and Prejuvenile lines represent the Springdale Figure Skating Club in Stamford.

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