Collegiate Synchro: University of Delaware
by Kenzie Brouk
Next up we are featuring the University of Delaware Collegiate Synchronized Skating team (UDSST). The team’s President Megan Hess and officer Alyssa Politoski speak candidly about their experience so far and goals for the upcoming season. In 2020 at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships the team captured the pewter medal in the collegiate division.
What is your favorite thing about the team?
“My favorite thing about UDSST is the bond that this team has with the current team and the alumni. The alumni are still very much involved and in touch with this team. A lot of our alumni still come to competitions and shows, are in contact with girls on the current team, and even skate on Team Delaware’s adult team. One of our coaches, Wendy Deppe, is an alumnus, so personally, it’s an honor to skate on the same team as someone I have learned so much from and respect tremendously. Everyone on this team has something to offer. Whether it’s life advice, academic advice on what classes to take, or someone to talk to, there’s always someone you can count on to be there for you. My teammates are so generous and selfless. Every time we step out on the ice, I am grateful and honored to be able to share it with them. I have truly made some of my best friends thanks to UDSST”, beamed Hess. Politoski highlights, “My favorite thing about the team is how we are a family. We are all always there for one another and I truly feel that these girls and my coaches are my families. They are my home away from home. The great thing about our family is that we are very diverse from our past skating experiences and also the grades we are in. Everyone provides knowledge for another and we build each other up.”
What has been your favorite memory with the team so far?
Politoski shares, “My favorite memory probably had to be when we were waiting to find out about our Easterns placement in the arena my freshman year. We have all gathered around in the lobby waiting to hear from our coaches, sitting nervously and talking amongst ourselves. About 15 minutes later, after we all changed out of our dresses and put on our regular clothes, our coaches came out to us, sat us down and talked to us, and told us we were the eastern champions once again. In that second all of us stood up and screamed. We all embraced each other at the same moment. That was the highlight of my freshman year and at that moment I cried buckets of tears for how proud I was of our team. Fulfilling the legacy of UDSST as the 21 times eastern champions made me feel a sense of pride I‘ve never felt. Being in that moment with my family made everything worth it and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share it with.” Hess, a senior on the team, shared about two of her favorite memories with the team, “Competing at my first collegiate competition and medaling at Nationals in 2020. I will never forget stepping on the ice at our first competition my freshman year of college, getting ready for our program, and hearing “Representing the University of Delaware…” It was a surreal feeling and I felt immense pride at that moment because it was the first time I was representing my school that I had fallen in love with. Last year at Nationals, we earned the pewter medal which was a huge accomplishment for our team. Some of the skaters on my team had never even been to Nationals, let alone earned a national medal. This memory was a beautiful one for the freshmen on the team but also an emotional one for the seniors who are to graduate in the months following.”
If you had one piece of advice for high school students looking to skate in college, what would it be?
“To do it,” Politoski states. “Skating gives you the ability to have that break from school but also reminds you of home. Just opening yourself to the same kind of community you had at home but with different people can be a great experience because other skaters understand what you are going through with the stress of school and trying to still do something you love. So my advice would be to do it, because I know I was set on not skating in college and now that I am, I know it was the right decision and don’t regret it one bit.” Hess adds that “Look at all your options regarding colleges and universities that offer skating. There are so many schools but they all offer something different and unique so it depends on what kind of experience you are searching for. Research your options and reach out to people on the team to ask for their experiences and information. Tour the campuses and try to meet up with a skater and/or coach so you can find out more about the school’s skating program(s) at that college. Skaters in college are always there to help high school students find their perfect fit for college and they would be glad to help.”
How do you balance being a student-athlete?
Hess and Politoski believe that time management is an important tool to master to be successful as a student-athlete, but Hess in addition to time management says that, “It is also important to find ways to destress and relax throughout the day. For me, it is listening to music. If I am listening to music while I do my work, I can get it done and move to the next task. Another habit I have is that I try to stay as organized as possible. I have my homework written down on my whiteboard at school, on my laptop, and my agenda. This way, I can see numerous times what work I have due in the upcoming weeks and I can get a head start on it so I am not stressed out when the due date is approaching.” Both skaters highlight that it is important to find what works for you and what doesn’t.
Does the team have any traditions?
“We have many on and the ice traditions. On the ice, all of our seniors do the music queue for competitions. We also always end our practices with the same loud cheer where the President yells, “Who are we?” and the rest of the team responds, “UD!” I have always loved that tradition and it is such an honor to be able to lead my team in that chant this coming year. Off the ice, we have a team building the night before we leave for Easterns called “Candlepass.” This tradition has been going on for years and it allows the team to get closer to one another by sharing stories about our lives and experiences. We also sing our obligatory locker room songs and before we leave for competitions, using our fight song on the bus as we pull out of the rink parking lot,” Hess highlighted. Politoski adds, “Before we start each season, we have choreography weekend which is amazing because we do team-building activities and get to know everybody a little better as people and as skaters. We room together and really get to bond and have fun together. From that weekend, our connections only get stronger and we hang out more and more which strengthens our team’s skating. Throughout the year we also do fun little scavenger hunts and connect with our other teams as well. Our team is all about fun, skating, and incorporating college into our lives. UDSST is built on traditions and thrives and bonds because of it.”
Goals for next season?
Both skaters are looking forward to being able to compete with the team this upcoming season. “For everybody to be back on the ice and practicing to keep up our eastern championships 21-year streak! Also, for all of us to skate our hearts out and remember and cherish what we are doing and who we are doing it with,” stated Politoski. “One of our main goals for next season is to continually put out the best program we can. Throughout the season, we always try to increase your score in both the technical aspect and the program component aspect. We are constantly working off the ice to improve our expression, lifts, and spiral lines,” says Hess.
Additional Information:
For more information, you can check out the team’s website, https://udsst.com/, or keep up with the team on social media via Instagram @UDSST or Twitter @UDSST. You can also contact the team’s coach, Megan O’ Donnell via email at megan.coach@gmail.com or Megan’s email meglhess@udel.edu