Collegiate Synchro: Boston College

by Kenzie Brouk

This week we are featuring the Boston College Synchronized Skating Team located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The team most recently placed first in the open-collegiate division at the 2020 Eastern Synchronized Skating Championships. President Pauline Flanagan and Vice-President Charlotte White reflect on their experience with the team so far and shed light on goals for the upcoming season. The team is hoping to move up to the collegiate level for this season. 

What is your favorite thing about the team?

Flanagan, a rising senior of the team highlights, “My favorite thing about BC Club Synchronized Skating is how tight-knit the team gets. We all come from different places in the country, different communities, and different skating backgrounds, however by the end of the Fall semester everyone is looking forward to the time that we get to spend on the ice together at 6 am. Our practices are filled with smiles and laughter, despite how early it is!” White, a rising junior says, “My favorite aspect of being on the BC Synchro team is going to competitions as a team. My first synchro competition ever was the Boston Synchro Skating Classic and before that competition, I felt like I didn’t know the other team members very well and I hadn’t quite found my place with the team yet. However, something about traveling to a different rink and competing as a team strengthened our bond and I grew closer to the other members. Since then, I’ve always found the entire competition process extremely exciting and fun; from the bus ride over, the warm-up, the performance, to the celebration together afterward.” 

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

Both Flanagan and White shared that Easterns 2020 when the team placed first was by far their favorite memory with the team so far. White shares in detail about that experience, “My favorite memory with the team was finding out that we had won Easterns Championships. That was my first year on the team, as well as my first year competing synchro (I was a freestyle skater before college), and my teammate and I were so excited that we had won our most important competition of the season! I remember jumping, screaming, and taking pictures in a huge pile with my team… it was crazy.”

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

White stated, “If you have even an inkling of a thought that you might join the skating team, but you’re not 100% sure yet, just give it a try! Joining a skating team is a great way to make friends quickly in college –especially as students starting a new, unfamiliar chapter of life– and you’ll already have a common interest in skating that may grow into a friendship beyond skating!” There is truly something so special about continuing to skate in college, and Flanagan adds that “I would say that skating in college is not only about continuing your passion and maintaining your skills but about building relationships with a new and diverse group of individuals. My advice would be to look for a team that represents your values and provides an environment that will allow you to thrive in your academic studies. Compare lots of skating programs and lots of schools, you may find what you’re looking for where you least expect it.”

How do you balance being a student-athlete?

Flanagan shares that being a student-athlete is rewarding as long as you stay on top of your work, “I find that being busy augments my ability to do my best in my classes! Further, the fulfillment that I get from skating fuels my desire to work hard and excel academically. BC Synchro practices are in the morning before class and team commitments such

as competitions rarely, if ever conflict with class time. Time management and not overscheduling yourself is key!” White adds that “The best way to balance a sport and academics is not to procrastinate too much. Don’t let your academic work be the reason that you can’t enjoy your sport.”

Does the team have any traditions?

“After every competition, my team goes to a restaurant, pulls a bunch of tables together, and enjoys a team meal together. It’s a great way to wind down after the competition and spend some time together. And the food always seems to taste better after the competitions because we’re always really hungry”, White shares. “We organize the team into “families” of 4-5 skaters with one or two skaters representing each class from freshman to senior. Our families are a way to foster mentorship and bonding between upper and lower class-men! Our favorite tradition of all is the “Eagles on the Warpath” chant which concludes every one of our practices and embodies our school spirit,” Flanagan shared.

Goals for next season?

White explained, “Our biggest goal for this upcoming season is to move up to the collegiate level and potentially qualify for nationals. We competed at the open-collegiate level the past few years (and even won Easterns in 2020), and we’re hoping that we can gather enough skaters and improve and perfect our skills so that we can skate more competitively and represent Boston and Boston College at the collegiate level!“ Flanagan shares the goal of helping the team move up to the collegiate level with the hopes of qualifying to Nationals, “This has been a vision of mine for the team since my freshman year, and one that is close to being realized thanks to dedication from the team as I step into the role of President during my senior year at BC. Aside from our competitive goals, we also want to continue to emphasize the social side of the team this year with the introduction of creative and more frequent team bonding activities. Finally, our team plans to engage in more charitable events this year, such as the Red Bandana Run and Relay for Life to give back to the community which we are a part of.”

Additional Information:
The team holds tryouts at the beginning of September at the on-campus rink, Conte Forum. The team welcomes skaters from all different backgrounds to join the team! The best way to reach the team to learn more information is via email at synchrosk@bc.edu. You can also follow the team on their Instagram @bcsynchro to stay in the loop. Team website: https://bcsynchro.weebly.com