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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. The Skyliners Synchronized Skating team won three gold medals and three silver medals at the Eastern Synchronized Skating Championships in Hershey, Pa.
The Preliminary, Prejuvenile and Juvenile lines all earned gold medals in their divisions. The Intermediate, Novice and Senior lines all earned silver medals.
The performances of the Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice and Senior lines also gave them berths in the 2012 National Synchronized Skating Championships to be held in Worcester, Mass., in March. They will be joining the Skyliners Junior line, which received a bye for this competition because of its designation as Team USA and its preparation for the 2012 French Cup in Rouen, France.
"The entire Skyliners organization had an amazing showing at Easterns,'' Skyliners coach Josh Babb said. "To come home with no less than gold and silver medals is an incredible accomplishment. The skaters and coaches hard work and intense training is paying off. The team will make the last push for the competitive season over the next four weeks in preparation for the National Championships in Massachusetts."
The Preliminary line defended its 2011 Eastern Championship title earned last year in Lake Placid, N.Y. Competing against 13 teams from up and down the East Coast, its expressive and fast performance to the music of The Wizard of Oz earned the team first place finishes in both the qualifying and championship rounds. In the end, it received six out of seven first place marks from the judges.
The Prejuvenile line also earned the title of champion for the first time in only its second season of competition. The prejuvenile division was the largest in Hershey, with 29 teams competing. The team also finished first in both the qualifying and championship rounds, skating to music from The Newsies.
The Juvenile line, the reigning Eastern and National Champions, skated a nearly flawless program and successfully defended its title. Skating to the music from "Sister Act," the fast-paced and technically difficult routine earned the team first place marks from five out of seven judges.
The Intermediate line skated a fun and fast swing number to the music of the Brian Setzer Orchestra in a field of 17 teams. With only four berths available to the national championships, the team's second place finish was more than enough to advance. The Intermediate line is the reigning U.S. silver medalists.
The Novice line took command of the ice with a nearly perfect performance to Broadways "42nd Street" for a solid second place finish. The reigning national pewter medalists are looking to keep up its momentum for nationals.
The Senior line skated a strong, entertaining and technically difficult short program to the Mad Hatter, scoring 54.30 points only 6 points behind the current world bronze medalists, the Haydenettes from Massachusetts. The team took the ice with confidence for the long program, skating a beautiful and powerful performance to Romeo and Juliet. The team finished with a season high combined score of 159.57.
Clinics and tryouts for the Skyliners' 2012-13 season start in mid-March and run through April 15. Visit the Skyliners at www.skylinerssynchro.com for dates and to learn more about the teams.
Preliminary girls from area communities include Dariens Maggie Brooks and Victoria Van Ingen; Greenwichs Madison deBlasi, Katherine Elmlinger, Emma Hentemann, Nicole Huber, Heidi Jacobson and Michelle Woo; Stamfords Juliette Lipson; and Westons Jillian Belluck.
Prepreliminary girls from the area include Dariens Mae Archie, Audrey Pizzolato and Mia Sparks; Riversides Hanna Tulchinsky; New Canaans Lucy Potter, Sophie Potter and Katerina Root; Stamfords Quincy Connell, Deanna Gladstone, Olivia Marshall, Kara McLaughlin and Elizabeth Watkinson; and Westports Cordeli Chen and Layla Rejhsinghani.
Novice skaters include Stamfords Lily Brouwer, Erin Crutchley and Tina Isola; and Fairfields Sarah McCarrick.
On the Intermediate team are Greenwichs Jordyn Young and Marisa Goff, and Westports Michael Macdonald and Katherine Orlin.
The Prejuvenile line includes Dariens Sophia Cortellesi, Katharine Foster and Michelle Han; Greenwichs Kristen Lewis and Raven Vaz; Old Greenwichs Lizzie Essaid; Stamfords Autumn Iafrate and Alexandra Watkinson; Norwalks Samantha Lamb; and Wiltons Samantha Newman.
The Juvenile line includes Greenwichs Stephanie Acho, Whitney Elmlinger, Nathalie Felton and Kathryn Goodfriend; New Canaans Maddie Zomb; Stamfords Christine Kao and Christina Landle; Westons Arielle Belluck; and Norwalks Kelsey Zarembski.
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