The synchronized skating teams might not get the press around campus that one might assume with such an impressive resume, but that’s of little consequence to the 52 young women that comprise the junior, collegiate, and senior squads, all of which have enjoyed plenty of success.
Most recently, the junior team finished fifth overall at the Leon Lurje Trophy competition Jan. 18-19, while the senior and collegiate squads competed at the Mid-America Championships in Frasier, Mich. Jan. 11-12. The senior RedHawks took home first and second place in the short program and free skate, respectively, while the collegiate crew came in first with its free skate performance entitled “Moments,” besting the runners up by a wide margin of 13 points.
“We’re very excited,” said Shannon Carmody, senior co-captain of the collegiate squad. “We’ve got a great group of girls. Our team’s made up of nine rookies and 10 returners, and we’ve bonded so well and we’re working very hard.”
The collegiate team is exactly what it sounds like, comprised of skaters that compete against other colleges across the country. Nine straight national titles ties a U.S. collegiate record, and the team is priming for a run at the record-breaking 10th this spring. The junior and senior teams, which operate on a larger scale and regularly compete internationally, have represented the United States in competitions such as the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. The 2007 Worlds were particularly memorable for Miami as it was awarded a silver medal, giving the RedHawks the distinction of being the only American team to ever place at that particular event.
With such high expectations, fifth-year head coach Carla DeGirolamo has her work cut out for her. A decorated skater during her time at Miami, DeGirolamo graduated in 2003 and stayed on as an assistant, eventually being named head coach in June of 2009.
“We always have the goal of winning championships and being as strong as we can,” the Cleveland native said. “This year’s group is very motivated all across the board. They’re much more aggressive and much more confident in themselves as athletes and skaters, but also as people, and it translates into their skating and performance at competition.”
Success, as senior team co-captain Katelyn Hilgers explained, comes from rigorous training and a hard work ethic. A daily regimen of two-hour skates, combined with biweekly lifting and off-ice ballet and choreography, helps ready the squads for competitions that are spread every few weeks. Add in hours of study tables and a full-time Miami course load, and it leaves these ladies with little free time.
It’s worth it, says Hilgers, who was practically born with skates on. Her mother was a skater and her brothers played hockey, engendering the Hershey, Penn. native with a love of the ice and a burning desire to skate competitively. When it came time to choose a college, Hilgers filled out just one application. It was always going to be Miami.
“I’ve been a part of this team since I was a freshman and it’s been the most incredible experience,” the senior explained. “It’s been my goal my whole life to skate for this team and now I’m living it.”
Along with co-captain Colleen Clancy, Hilgers and the senior squad now turn their attention to their last three competitions, starting with the Mozart Cup in Salzburg, Austria on Jan. 25. That’s followed by a trip to Nationals on Feb. 28, and hopefully an invitation to the ISU Worlds in April. Medaling is the goal that DeGirolamo has set with the senior group, and the junior and collegiate teams have equally challenging aims.
“Ultimately, we want to get our 10th consecutive collegiate national championship and break a U.S. figure skating record,” DeGirolamo said. “Internationally, we want to be on that podium at a world championship event. We’ve got lofty goals, but we have the girls with the capability to execute them, so we’re not going to settle for good enough – we’re going to keep pushing.”
About the Author