2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships Wrap-Up

by Kennedy McKay

This past week, the 2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships took place in Providence, Rhode Island. Held at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, new national champions were crowned as others continued their national winning streaks. This proved to be one of the most exciting competitions of the season as teams laid everything they had on the ice.

The novice division began events on Thursday.  Teams Elite won the title, scoring 88.12 points in their “Proud Mary” program.  The team earned the highest total element score by less than half a point, but really led the field in their program component score of 48.25, which was nearly six points ahead of the pack.  Teams Elite also executed the highest scoring moves, twizzle, no hold, and artistic element. This is the first novice title for the organization. Skyliners Blue earned the silver medal, performing an upbeat “Aladdin” program to total 81.70.  The team earned the highest-valued pivot block, executing a pivot block Level 3 with positive grade of execution marks to earn 6.36 for this element. Star Mates’ “Swing” program scored 77.96 to earn the bronze medal. Skyliners Black rounded out the national medalists with the pewter medal, earning 76.82 with their skate set to “Peter Pan”. 

Following the novice division was the masters event. Esprit de Corps secured the title, totaling 44.89 in their “The Fun Factor” program.  Allegro! followed in second place. Skating to “Vogue”, their sassy performance earned 42.54. DC EDGE earned the bronze medal; their skate set to the musical “Sister Act” scored 42.20.  Goldenettes wrapped up the masters medalists in fourth place. Their “80s Medley” skate tallied 38.58.

The junior short program concluded events on Thursday, and the free skate took place on Friday evening.  Skyliners earned another consecutive title, finishing in first place in both their “Memories” short program and “Moulin Rouge” free skate to earn a competition total of 200.51. Teams Elite earned the silver medal with a combined score of 184.08. The team was in third place after their “Ain’t No Sunshine” short program, but moved up to second place after an emotional “Sound of Silence” free skate. Both teams will skate again as they head to the ISU Junior World Synchronized Skating Championships in Nottingham, England in just a few weeks.  Starlights claimed the bronze medal with 177.81. After their “Cinderella in Rags” short program put the team in second, their “Cinderella at the Ball” free skate ranked fourth to put the team in third place overall. Lexettes finished in fourth place, earning a total of 174.04. The team started the competition in sixth place after errors in their “Pentatonix” short program, but their “Music Was My First Love” free skate ranked third to move the team up to fourth place overall.

Friday’s events began with the intermediate event.  Skating to “We Are the World”, Ice Mates captured another national title with a total score of 72.55.  Ice Mates performed the highest-scoring travel element, twizzle element, and pivot block. Capital Ice Chips delivered a thrilling performance set to an “Amber Alert” theme to tally 67.84 for the silver medal.  The team executed the highest-scoring intersection element, earning 7.80 for this element. Teams Elite followed in third place. Their “Queen” skate earned 65.01 along with the highest-valued moves, artistic, and no hold element. Starlights improved on their seventh place finish last season to earn a podium spot in fourth place.  Their “Battle of the Genders” program earned 52.82.

The senior short program took place after the intermediate event, and the free skate concluded on Saturday evening. Haydenettes picked up their 28th national title, earning a total score of 203.19.  The team finished first in both their “It’s All Coming Back to Me” short program and “INXS” free skate. Skyliners finished in second place overall with a total score of 194.94. Their “Warrior” program put the team in second place after the first day of competition, and their “Queen” free skate ranked third. Haydenettes and Skyliners were selected to represent Team USA at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Lake Placid, New York in April.  The Crystallettes’ powerful short program set to “Amen” started the team in third place, and their “Black Widow” free skate ranked fifth; the team finished in third place overall with a total score of 193.09. Miami University earned the final podium spot, totaling 192.39. Their “Amazing Grace” short program placed fourth, but their “Rise Up” free skate ranked second. Adrian College earned an overall score of 187.60. Their sassy “Let Me Think About It” short program ranked fifth, and their “Seasons” free skate ranked fourth.

The juvenile event kicked off events on Saturday.  Teams Elite won the organization’s first juvenile national title. Skating first in the competition, their “Toy Soldier” skate earned 49.20 along with the highest-scoring twizzle element.  Skyliners trailed by just 0.24 to finish with the silver medal. Skating to a “Sailor” themed program, the team performed the highest-valued moves element and received a total score of 48.96.  Mini Mates’ “Willy Wonka” performance posted 42.70 to earn third place. The team performed the highest-valued travel element, executing a travel circle Level 2. DC EDGE skated to “Hercules”, scoring 41.76 to secure the pewter medal.

The adult division took place next. Esprit de Corps snagged the gold medal, totaling 58.57 in their “Unbreakable” skate.  The team earned the highest-scoring pivot block, earning a Level 2 and 4.91 points for this element. Crystallettes finished in second, scoring 55.92. Earning the highest-valued rotating/linear element, the team executed a line element Level 4 and an additional 0.97 points in grade of execution marks.  California Gold delivered an entertaining performance to “Austin Powers” to earn 55.81 for the bronze medal. The team received the highest score for their intersection element, tallying 7.34 points. Team Excel finished in fourth place, scoring 52.25.

The collegiate teams took the ice Saturday evening. University of Michigan returned to the top of the podium, earning a massive 106.49 to secure the title.  Skating to “The Beatles”, the team executed the highest-scoring pivot block, synchronized spin, and intersection elements. Adrian College’s “Aladdin” program totaled 97.35.  The team earned the most points for their moves element. Miami University followed in third place, scoring 92.81 in their “Girl Gang” program. Executing an artistic line, the team performed the highest-valued artistic element. University of Delaware returned to the podium, secring the pewter medal after earning 80.85 in their skate set to “50 Shades of Gray”.

Congratulations to all those who competed at #SynchroChamps!  Good luck to the Haydenettes, Skyliners senior, Skyliners junior, and Teams Elite junior as they represent Team USA in the coming months at the most elite competitions in the sport.  Follow Get It Called on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated in between events!