2021 Boston Synchronized Skating Classic Wrap Up

by Helena Mazzarella

Skaters enthusiastically flooded the newly renovated Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Mass. this past weekend to participate in the Boston Synchronized Skating Classic. This marked the first competition for some teams after nearly a year and a half hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For others, this competition was a chance to improve on scores from competitions over the past two weekends. Boston Classic was also third in a series of competitions to determine Team USA status and eligibility for  junior and senior teams. Despite the differences in purposes of the competition, there was a shared sense of joy and excitement that radiated throughout the facility. 

The event began on Saturday, with a substantial number of pre-juvenile teams. Only 2.67 points separated the first place from the third place team. Earning the gold medal with a score of 35.65 was Skyliners – the only team to receive positive GOEs on every element. Up next, claiming silver, was Connecticut Rinkettes, who earned 34.96 points. Grabbing the bronze medal with a score of 32.98 was Synchro Stars. And, rounding out the podium, in fourth place came Team Image with 29.71 points. 

Following the pre-juvenile event was the preliminary category, which was made up of eight teams. Much like the pre-juvenile event, only a handful of points separated the top teams. As a whole, the event was highly competitive, with only about a ten-point difference between teams placed first through eighth. Team Excel captured first place with a score of 24.18. Second place went to New Jersey Skyliners, who earned 23.66 points. Both Team Excel and New Jersey Skyliners received positive GOEs on all of their elements. In third place was The Colonials with 20.08 points, and fourth place went to Skyliners, who earned 17.76 points. 

The novice division was up next where Skyliners Blue earned the top score of 72.92. Their moves element scored 7.41 points, which was the highest in the division. Claiming second place was Team Image with a score of 67.36, which was only .2 above Ice Mates, who came in third. Ice Mates had the second highest executed elements score behind Skyliners Blue. DC Edge came in fourth place with a score of 62.55. Their artistic element received the highest GOEs in the novice division. Finally, Northernettes placed fifth with a score of 59.89. 

Next up was intermediate, one of the largest divisions of the competition. Following their novice line, Skyliners captured the gold with a score of 57.60. Team Excel followed behind, placing second with 53.46 points. In third place came Team Image Intermediate Black, scoring 52.64 points. Rounding out the podium was Star Mates, who earned 51.42 points – only .35 points above Northernettes, who came in fifth with a score of 51.07. The intermediate division was surely one to watch with such tight scores! 

After the intermediate division was the open juvenile division. The Colonials took first place with a score of 44.47. Coming in second place was Team Excel, who earned 42.34 points. Superettes came in third with a score of 41.52 and CNY Blizzard earned the pewter medal with 40.11 points. 

The last two events of the night were the junior and senior short programs. In the junior division, Skyliners captured the gold with a score of 65.68. Coming in second was Lexettes, who scored 60.84 points. Only a little over two points behind second, Team Image placed third with a score of 58.63. Starlights placed fourth with a score of 50.12, narrowly beating Northernettes who placed fifth with a score of 50.00. 

All of the country’s senior teams were competing head to head for the first time this season. Two weeks prior, Adrian College, Crystallettes and Miami University competed at the Diamond Classic, while Haydenettes and Skyliners competed at the Synchro Fall Classic in Irvine, California. In the short program, Haydenettes scored 70.40 points, putting them in first place. Skyliners placed second with a score of 64.87. Less than a point behind them was Miami University who placed third with 64.28. Crystallettes were next with a score of 53.85 and Adrian College followed with 48.04 points. The close scores between second and third place made for an exciting free program competition the following day. 

Juvenile kicked off Sunday morning’s competition. Team Image claimed the gold medal with 47.27 points after earning positive GOEs on all of their elements. Despite two falls, Skyliners followed in second with a score of 44.15 and earned the highest scoring intersection element in the juvenile division. In third came Team Excel with 39.11 points and Mini Mates captured fourth place with 36.09 points. 

The junior division resumed Sunday with the free skate event, and the top three teams remained in their positions. First place went to Skyliners, who scored 114.14 in the free skate for a total score of 179.82. Next, Lexettes earned 112.22 in the free skate, making their combined score 173.06, putting them in second for the event. Team Image came in third with a free skate score of 111.45, which earned them 170.08 total points. Northernettes earned 99.66 in the free skate, which moved them onto the podium into fourth place with a score of 149.11. DC Edge ended in fifth place with a score of 93.66 in the free skate, which made their total score 140.86. Starlights earned 90.02 points in the free skate and ended with a total score of 140.14, putting them in sixth place. 

Hayden Select was the only team in the Elite 12 category. Their powerful “The Show Must Go On” performance earned a score of 97.28 points. 

Following the Elite 12 division was the highly anticipated senior free skate. Haydenettes held their first place position, scoring 139.18 in the free skate with a total score of 209.58 points. Miami University’s “I Put a Spell on You” free skate captured second place with a score of 113.26 and a total score of 177.54. Skyliners ended in third place with a score of 109.70, earning them a competition score of 174.57. Crystallettes earned the pewter medal with their “Cruella” program, scoring 107.58 in the free skate and 161.43 overall. Adrian College followed in fifth with a free skate score of 96.96 and a total score of 145.00. Four of these teams – Miami University, Skyliners, Crystallettes, and Adrian College – will face off again at the Porter Classic in a few weeks. 

After the senior free skate came the adult division. Team Excel won with a score of 53.84. In second came Esprit de Corps, who earned 50.55 points and Team Tenacity came in third with a score of 44.86. 

Up next was the collegiate division where Adrian College captured the gold with a score of 82.07. Close behind was Team Excel, who came in second with a score of 80.98. In third place was the University of Massachusetts, scoring 52.91 points. Lastly, Boston College earned the pewter medal with a score of 49.56. Boston University, who was slated to compete, withdrew from the competition. 

Rounding out the IJS events was the masters division. Esprit de Corps was the only team competing and they earned a score of 38.62. 

The first of the 6.0 events was Aspire beginner. In Group A, New Jersey Skyliners placed first with a 5/1 majority. CT Rinkettes followed in second, and Skyliners Blue rounded out the podium in third. In Group B, Skyliners Black claimed gold, Team Delaware silver, Team Excel bronze, and Gate City Synchro pewter. 

The next of the 6.0 events was Aspire preliminary. Here, CT Rinkettes placed first with a 6/1 majority. Team Excel came in second, and Charlotte Synchro finished in third. 

After Aspire preliminary, there was an Aspire Snowplow Sam exhibition from Team Excel. Team Excel also participated in an exhibition for their Aspire pre-preliminary line. 

The last 6.0 event for the weekend was the Open Collegiate division. Orange Experience placed first with a 4/1 majority. Princeton Synchro followed in second, with Mirror Images coming in third and University of Vermont Synchro placing fourth. 

Congratulations to all of the competitors! Whether this was your first-ever competition, your first competition of the season, or your potential last season, there was a common consensus inside the Skating Club of Boston. Skaters, coaches and spectators alike relished in the opportunity to compete, cheer and support each other once again.