2022 Mid America Synchronized Skating Championships Preview

by Kaci McComis

This weekend synchronized skating makes its 2022 debut as teams will travel to Fraser, Michigan for the 2022 Mid America Synchronized Skating Championships. The event will take place at Big Boy Arena, formally known as Fraser Hockeyland, and is hosted by the Fraser Figure Skating Club. 

The competition will kick off Saturday morning with the senior short program. This year, Adrian College Varsity will be the only team in this event. The team hopes to improve their short program score of 54.40, which they earned previously at the Dr. Porter Classic. 

Following a quick senior short program, three teams will go head to head in the novice division. Intensity and Crystallettes are both looking forward to improving their scores from Porter, and Cleveland Ice Storm is looking forward to improving its score from Kalamazoo Kick-Off. The Crystallettes have their eyes on the prize in this division after taking home the pewter medal from Porter with a high score of 69.31 points. 

After the novice event, Adrian College Varsity will compete as the only team in the collegiate division. They hope to break their previous high score of 82.07, which was earned at the Boston Classic. 

Next on the ice is the preliminary division. This event is nine teams deep, making it the largest out of the whole competition. Arctic Edge Unity, Crystallettes, and Cleveland Ice Storm are top contenders in this event. The Crystallettes won Porter with a score of 21.24 and Arctic Edge Unity was just behind them with 19.65 points, while Cleveland Ice Storm took home gold at Kalamazoo with 21.94 points. Hockettes, Intensity, Onyx Infinity, Livonia Icettes, Silver Streaks, and Starr Blades will also be competing and hoping to improve their scores from their previous competitions. 

Following the preliminary event is the pre-juvenile event. The competition will be tight, as eight teams are looking to put out their best skates. Top contenders include Chicago Skates, Crystallettes, and Hockettes. At Porter, Chicago Skates earned the silver medal in pre-juvenile group A with 32.33 points and the Hockettes earned the bronze medal with 26.61 points. Meanwhile, the Crystallettes won pre-juvenile group B at Porter with a score of 35.10. Silver Streaks, Traverse City Northern Lights, Patriettes, Onyx Infinity, and Chiller Synchro will also be competing and hoping to improve their scores and put out clean skates. 

Up next is the open juvenile event, where seven teams will be competing. All eyes are on Chicago Skates, as the team currently reigns as undefeated. The team is looking forward to beating their high score of 47.48, which was earned at Kalamazoo. Other top contenders in the event include Intensity and Traverse City Northern Lights, as both teams are eager to improve their scores and land on the podium. Livonia Icettes, Team Magnifique, Arctic Edge Unity, and Cleveland Ice Storm round out the division and hope to put out clean performances. 

Aspire beginner will be split into two groups at the competition. Aspire beginner A will consist of Arctic Edge Unity, Patriettes, and Onyx Infinity, while Aspire beginner B includes Starr Blades, Crystallettes, Evolution, and Livonia Icettes. All teams will be looking forward to skating their best performances yet. 

Following the Aspire beginner division is the intermediate event. Intensity and Cleveland Ice Storm are the two top contenders of the event as both teams are looking to improve their high scores of 45.58 and 43.08 respectively. Chiller Synchro, Starlights, Arctic Edge Unity, and Onyx Infinity will also be competing. These four teams are looking to put out a clean skate and improve their scores from Porter. 

Next on the ice is the juvenile division. Cleveland Ice Storm and Crystallettes are the only teams competing in this division. Cleveland Ice Storm is looking forward to beating their previous score of 33.76 and the Crystallettes are coming off a pewter medal skate at Porter, which earned them a score of 39.28. 

After the juvenile event is the adult event. Crystallettes and United Ice will be the only two teams competing in this event. The Crystallettes recently earned the bronze medal at Porter with 41.69 points. United Ice has yet to compete this season, so they will be looking forward to putting out a strong performance. 

Adrian College Varsity will take the ice next for the senior free skate. The team hopes to beat its high score of 114.60. Following Adrian, Onyx Infinity will be the only masters team to take the ice. Onyx Infinity will be looking forward to skating a clean program and earning a new high score.

After the masters event, Ohio University will be the only team competing in the open collegiate event. Shortly after, Lake Effect Flurries and Evolution will compete in the open adult division. The open masters event will follow and will include Onyx Infinity and Arctic Edge Unity. All of these teams are looking forward to skating their best this weekend. 

Following the open masters event is the Aspire pre-preliminary division. Aspire pre-preliminary will be split into A and B groups. Competing in group A is Arctic Edge Unity, Silver Streaks, and Cleveland Ice Storm. Onyx Infinity, Intensity, Hockettes, and Evolution will make up group B. All of the teams competing are excited to put out clean skates. 

Wrapping up the day is the Snowplow Sam divisions. Like the Aspire pre-preliminary division, the Snowplow Sam event has been split into A and B groups. Hockettes, Onyx Infinity SIR, Arctic Edge Unity, and Onyx Infinity SCS will be competing in group A. Group B consists of Cleveland Ice Storm, Onyx Infinity Lakeland, Patriettes, and Silver Streaks. All Snowplow Sam teams will be looking forward to putting out great performances. 

Be sure to follow Get It Called at @getitcalled and @GIC_Results for updates on the competition this weekend! Best of luck to all teams competing!