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STAMFORD, Conn. The Skyliners Synchronized Skating Team, which includes skaters from several Westchester County communities, kicked off its winter season Saturday with the clubs annual Pep Rally at the Terry Conners Ice Rink in Stamford, Conn.
"I am thrilled with the progress of our skaters, and the Skyliners are eager to kick off the competitive season this Saturday, Skyliners Head Coach Josh Babb said. I am excited to see even more growth as the season continues, and I am looking forward to seeing what accomplishments they achieve this season."
The next event for the Skyliners is the Thanksgiving Classic in Plymouth, Mass. on Saturday.
All eight Skyliners lines skated to a packed house featuring 10 routines accompanied by a wide variety of music, including selections from the Broadway classic 42nd Street, Lady Gagas Edge of Glory, and Tchaikovskys Swan Lake.
The Skyliners hope to continue the success they had last season. The Junior line, which includes skaters up to 18 years of age, is the United States Figure Skatings (USFS) reigning Junior Synchronized Skating National Champion.
Skyliners' Junior line also finished in fifth place at the Junior World Challenge Cup in Neuchatel, Switzerland and the Junior World Championships, were champions of the 2011 Spring Cup in Milan, Italy and are members of Team USA for 2011-2012.
The Juvenile line, which includes skaters who are younger than 13 years old, is the USFS's reigning National Champion. Skyliners Novice and Intermediate divisions were also USFS National medalists last year. The three youngest lines all won the Eastern Challenge series in their divisions.
Synchronized skating, originally called precision skating, consists of 12 to 20 athletes skating on ice at one time moving as one flowing unit at high speeds.The skaters must be competent at a variety of skating skills, including freestyle elements, speed, and foot work and ice presence. There are international synchronized skating competitions at the novice, junior, and senior levels (with senior being the most elite).
The Skyliners incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2001 and have since achieved acclaim and respect throughout the Synchronized skating community as one of the top synchronized skating organizations in the country, 164 girls across eight lines, with skaters who range in age between six and 22.
Westchester skaters include:
Seniors: Marlena Holter (Cortlandt Manor), Courtney Buell (Irvington), Amanda Flink (Katonah), Amelia Strauss (New Rochelle).
Juniors: Peyton Delgorio (Croton), Jennifer Schwartzman (Katonah), Nicole Vitale (Ossining), Sennett Cooke (Pelham), Jillian Longo (Scarsdale), Stevie-Lynn Angiolillo (White Plains), Holly Farkus (White Plains).
Novice: Ava Holter (Cortlandt Manor), Elizabeth Greenblatt (Harrison), Julia Kaston (Irvington), Julia Sipos (Irvington), Starr Ortiz (Larchmont), Hannah Bloch (New Rochelle), Olivia Barbulescu (Purchase), Nicole Brenner (Scarsdale), Nicole Vanderwerker (Yorktown Heights).
Intermediate: Brielle Bonetti (New Rochelle), Arian Sirabian (New Rochelle), Ilaria Lampson (Pelham Manor), Danielle Senande (Pleasantville), Jennifer Jacobowitz (Scarsdale), Audry Nadler (Scarsdale), Illeana Pennetto (South Salem), Tatiana Fischer (Thornwood), Elana Mariani (White Plains).
Juvenile: Lainey Rothschild (Baldwin Place), Bella Dinelli (Briarcliff Manor), Athena Tejada (Eastchester), Kelsey Bialo (Larchmont), Tayloe Blake (Mount Vernon), Kathleen Bishop (Scarsdale).
Preliminary: Macie Aronsky (Armonk), Natasha Witz (Bedford), Rachel Cortese (Irvington), Erika Sipos (Irvington), Catherine Kapica (Katonah), Emmy Sloan (Mount Kisco), Mikhaila Archer (Ossining), Gracie Ossorio (Rye Brook).
Pre Juvenile: Kayla Periera (Briarcliff Manor), Caitlyn Chapey (Mamaroneck), Sophia Lamb (Pleasantville), Lauren and Olivia Monahan (Rye), Rhea Munjal (Rye Brook), Ariel Goldman (Scarsdale).
Pre Preliminary: Morgan Aronsky (Armonk), Brenna Fridie (Mount Vernon), Lily Young (New Rochelle) and Hannah Goldman (Scarsdale).
For more information on the Skyliners club, contact Gretchen Brooks at scottandgretchen@sbcglobal.net or Skylinerssynchro.com.
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