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GREENWICH, Conn. Competing against the best teams in the country, the Skyliners Junior line won the World Junior Team Selection competition in Lowell, Mass., and will be the top U.S. team at the Junior World Challenge Cup in Sweden in March.
Area girls on the Junior line include Cos Cob's Brooke Abbott and Mairead Brock, Greenwichs Alexandra Scarpulla and Pelham's Sennett Cooke.
The team's combined program score of 162.44 edged Team Braemer of Minnesota by just more than one point.
The Junior line earned 49.61 for its short program, an upbeat and energetic program skated to Lady Gagas Edge of Glory. That put the team in third place, only 0.22 points behind the Lexettes of Lexington, Mass., and five points behind Team Braemar.
The Skyliners sizzled in their long program. Wearing black and white feathered dresses, they skated to the music from the movie "The Black Swan." The performance electrified the stadium and earned the team 112.83 points. Combined with the short program, the Skyliners were in first place with only Team Braemar left to skate, guaranteeing a spot on Team USA. Team Braemar skated a clean program as well, and the long program score of 106.51 earned it the silver medal.
The girls really impressed me this weekend, coach Josh Babb said. They did not let results of the short program impact their performance in the long. They took the ice with confidence and grace, and owned the moment. I am looking forward to seeing them against a strong international field in France next month.
The Skyliners and Team Braemar will represent the United States in the Junior World Challenge Cup in Goteborg, Sweden.
Next up for the Skyliners Junior team is the 2012 French Cup in Rouen, France, from Feb. 2 to 4, as representatives of Team USA. The United States Figure Skating Association made the assignment after the team's successful 2010-11 competitive season.
Clinics and tryouts for the 2012-13 season start mid-March and run through April 15. Visit the Skyliners at www.skylinerssynchro.com for dates and details.
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