Collegiate Synchro: University of Missouri

by Kenzie Brouk

Our next team is the University of Missouri’s Club Synchronized Skating Team. Their club President Caroline Ordway and team member Hannah Holladay spoke highly about the team bond they have together on and off the ice as well as their experience thus far. The team competes at the open-collegiate level and is looking forward to the competition season ahead. With previous podium finishes at the Midwestern Sectional Championships in both 2016 and 2017, the team is eager to work hard at the chance to stand on that podium once again. 

What is your favorite thing about the team?

Ordway says, “My favorite thing about the team is how close we all get based on this one thing we do. We all have different majors, career paths, and hobbies but this team brings us all together and we instantly become best friends.” Holladay adds, “I think there’s something really special about having teammates that are also your classmates, especially in college. The connections we get to make with each other extend so far beyond the ice and we take pride in being able to represent our school as athletes. That community has meant so much to me and I love getting to grow academically and athletically with teammates who share similar goals.”

What has been your favorite memory with the team so far?

“My favorite memory with the team is when we put on our skates we try to get as hyped as possible listening to music and at our last competition last season we were putting on our skates out in the open, but it didn’t stop us from singing at the top of our lungs and dancing in front of everyone,” Ordway highlighted. On the other hand, Holladay shares a unique experience the team participates in each season, “We skate a winter ice show every December on a little, outdoor rink tucked away at a lodge at the Lake of the Ozarks. I feel like I’m living a scene out of a Hallmark movie every time we go, and it’s always such a fun night for us to just share the sport we love with other people.”

If you had one piece of advice for high school students looking to skate in college, what would it be?

Holladay states that “Take the time to think about what you want to get out of skating in college and prioritize that. Friends, exercise, competition, a sense of community – they’re all valid answers, and it’s okay if your reasons are different from others. I think that’s true of your college experience as a whole but especially when you’re part of a team. It’s so important to know your own personal “why” and to remind yourself of it as often as you can.” 

How do you balance being a student-athlete?

“Being a student-athlete gets trickier as you get older and classes to become more difficult. Time management is my best quality when it comes to this. I plan what I need to study that week and what assignments are due and make sure I have that time chiseled out so I don’t fall behind. I also make sure to get work done before it comes to competition weekends”, Ordway expressed. 

Does the team have any traditions?

Holladay shares, “We have lots of pre-competition rituals, but my favorite is one we do right after we take the ice and before our program music starts. A team member will yell out “M-I-Z” and the rest of the team will respond with “Z-O-U”. I love that we get to carry on a Mizzou tradition while we’re on the ice  competing, and it’s the best feeling ever when we’re loud enough to echo through the rink or the audience spells out our school letters back to us.” 

Goals for next season?

Holladay and Ordway are both looking forward to a more normal season following the pandemic with the hopes of still making safety a priority. Ordway highlights, “Goals for next season is to up the technical difficulties of our program while also looking strong on the ice.” Holladay adds, “We’re always wanting to grow and push ourselves to be better skaters and competitors, which I think will continue to be a top priority next season.”

Additional Information:
The team holds their first practice early in September and anyone is welcome to attend. For an official date and more on the team’s first practice, you can stay up to date on Instagram @mizclubsynchro or the Facebook page Mizzou Club Synchronized Skating. The team’s coach this season is Korby Pyles. Any further questions don’t hesitate to reach out to mizzousynchro@gmail.com.