2021 Kalamazoo Kick-Off Classic Wrap Up
by Amanda Moyer
This past weekend, the 21st Annual Kalamazoo Kick Off Classic occurred at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo Michigan. It was hosted by the Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association.
The junior short program kicked off the competition. The only team competing, Dazzlers earned a score of 37.83 which earned them the gold medal. In the open juvenile Group A Division, Chicago Skates took home the gold with a total score of 45.94. Following them was Intensity with a total score of 38.48. Earning the bronze was Ellenton Epic Edge from the Southwest Florida FSC with a total score of 30.57. Kansas City Illusion placed 4th with a score of 28.66. Livonia Icettes (26.05), Dazzlers (25.97), and Arctic edge (25.43) placed fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively.
In the open juvenile Group B Division, Teams Elite was at the top of the podium in first place with a score of 47.46. Taking home the silver medal were the Traverse City Northern Lights with a score of 44.12. In third place was Capital Classics with a score of 41.95. Not too far behind them in fourth place was Kalamazoo Kinetic with a score of 41.63. Chicago Radiance (40.73), Team Magnifique (30.25), and Cleveland ice storm (28.90) placed fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively.
Next on the ice were the preliminary teams. In Group A Teams Elite scored a 25.63 putting them in first place. Bringing home the silver was Cleveland Ice Storm (21.94) and in third was Saint Louis Synergy (20.62). The fourth place team, Ellenton Epic Edge was not too far behind them with a score of 20.32. In Group B, Fond Du Lac Blades won gold with a score of 24.58 followed by Arctic Edge with a score of 19.72. Earning the bronze was Crystallettes with a score of 18.29. Bringing home the pewter medal was Glenview Blades with a score of 17.45.
The Dazzlers returned for the junior freeskate where they earned a score of 66.95 and a combined score of 104.78.
Following the junior division was the adult division. Kansas City Illusion was the only team in this division, earning a score of 42.70.
For the juvenile division, Teams Elite dominated with a score of 56.41 placing them in first. Following them was the Crystallettes with a score of 47.22 earning them the silver medal. Saint Louis Synergy received bronze with a score of 39.28. Right behind them was Fond Du Lac Blades with a very close score of 38.44. Starlights (36.18), Wisconsin Inspire (35.38), Cleveland Ice Storm (33.76), and Dazzlers (24.72) received fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth respectively.
Up next was the pre-juvenile division. This event was one of the largest at this competition with twelve teams competing. Teams Elite landed in first place with a score of 43.15. Taking home the silver was Glenview Blades with a score of 39.35, followed by Windjammers who earned the bronze medal with a score of 33.20. Next on the podium was Kalamazoo Kinetic in fourth place with a score of 32.26.
In the open masters division, Allegro! placed first with the majority of 5/1. Arctic Edge withdrew from the competition.
In a large pool of intermediate teams, Teams Elite took home the gold with a score of 74.02. Fond Du Lac Blades landed in second with a score of 62.27. Intensity received third place with a score of 45.58 and Kansas City Illusion took home the pewter with a score of 44.02. Cleveland Ice Storm (43.08), Onyx Infinity (41.58), Arctic Edge (41.43), and Wisconsin Inspire (38.86) received fifth, sixth, seventh, and eights respectively.
Next up was the masters division. Earning the gold was Starlights with a score of 44.77. Right behind them was Allegro! with a score of 40.40 and Kalamazoo Kinetic earned the bronze with a score of 18.60.
The novice event closed out the competition on saturday and Teams Elite earned a score of 87.99 putting them in first place followed by Fond du Lac Blades in second with a score of 73.26. In third place, Starlights earned a score of 68.33 followed by Crystallettes in fourth with a score of 61.48. Hockettes (58.20), Cleveland Ice Storm (55.91), Intensity (55.09), Dazzlers (51.10), and Saint Louis Synergy (49.74) earned fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.
Kicking off Sunday’s events was the collegiate division. Western Michigan University landed in first place with a score of 85.27 with their upbeat “Hustle” program. University of Michigan earned the silver medal with a score of 77.20 to their elegant “Whitney Houston” program. Receiving the bronze medal was Michigan State University with a score of 62.13. Right behind them was University of Illinois with a score of 59.29 earning them the pewter medal. Trine University placed fifth to round out the division with a score of 54.10
Following the collegiate division was the Aspire beginner Group A event. Onyx Infinity earned the gold medal with a 5/1 majority. In second place was the Starr Blades with a 4/2 majority. Finally, in third place was Kalamazoo Kinetic with a 5/3 majority earning them the bronze medal. In Group B, Crystallettes placed first with a 5/1 majority with Chicago Skates placing second with a 3/2 majority. With a 5/3 majority, Livonia Icettes took home the bronze and Arctic Edge Unity earned the pewter with a 5/4 majority.
Up next was the Aspire preliminary event. Chicago Skates landed in first place with a 3/1 majority followed by Starfire in second with a 5/2 majority. In the Open Adult division, Lake Effect Flurries earned the gold medal with a 4/1 majority. Receiving the silver medal was Trine University with a 4/2 majority. Finally, in third place was Kansas City Illusion with a 5/3 majority.
For the SnowPlow Sam event, the Hockettes received first place with a majority of 5/1. Earning the silver medal was Cleveland Ice Storm with a majority of 5/2. In the Aspire pre-preliminary event, Cleveland Ice Storm landed in first place with a majority of 3/1. Following them was Onyx Infinity earning the silver medal with a majority of 5/2. Securing the bronze medal was the Hockettes with a majority of 3/3 and Dazzlers landed on the podium in fourth place with a majority of 5/4. Finally, in fifth place was Kalamazoo Kinetic with a 5/5 majority. Arctic Edge Unity withdrew from the competition.
Ending the competition was the open collegiate division. University of Michigan landed in first place with their “Dreams” program with a 3/1 majority. Earning the silver medal was Western Michigan University with their confident “Saxophone” program with a majority of 3/3. In third place was Trine University with their graceful “Imagine” program with a majority of 3/3. Michigan State University earned the pewter medal with their upbeat “Saturday” program with a majority of 4/4. University of Missouri and Ohio University earned fifth and sixth respectively.
Congratulations to all of the teams that competed in the Kalamazoo Kickoff Classic! It was such a fun and enjoyable event for everyone. It was so exciting to see everyone compete in-person again. We would like to wish everyone the best of luck as they continue to compete this season!