2022 Colonial Classic Wrap-Up

by Mikaela Dicomitis

One of the first competitions of 2022, the 37th annual Colonial Classic was held at the Tsongas Center, in Lowell, Massachusetts from January 7-9, 2022. The Colonial Classic is an event that skaters look forward to as they prepare for the peak of their competitive season. Unfortunately, a significant number of teams throughout the various divisions made the decision to withdraw from the event due to the newest serge of COVID-19. With the help of the host club, the Colonial Figure Skating Club and volunteers, the 2022 Colonial Classic was a great success for all participants and spectators.

The event commenced on Saturday with eight teams competing in the pre-juvenile group A event. Earning the gold medal with a score of 42.44 and the only team to score positive grades of execution on every element was Teams Elite. Capturing second place was Connecticut Rinkettes with a score of 36.33, followed closely behind by DC EDGE with less than a point of separation. The Synchro Stars earned fourth place with a score of 33.57. Team Image (31.11) skated into fifth, followed by CNY Storm (25.81) placing sixth, and National Blades (22.71) placing seventh respectively. The Skyliners withdrew from the event. 

Pre-juvenile teams continued to skate as the competition led into the pre-juvenile group B event. Capturing first place were the Munchkins with a score of 34.50, followed by Mirror Images earning a score of 32.31, while CT Ice Fusion earned the bronze medal with a score of 25.18, with NESC Starlings rounding out the podium with a score of 23.14. Exton Edge placed fifth with a score of 21.61, concluding the pre-juvenile group B event. Harlem Ice, Shimmers, and Team Ashburn, withdrew from the event.

Preliminary group A took the ice next with five teams competing. Teams Elite took the gold medal with all positive grades of execution on every element earning them a score of 24.98. The Colonials followed close behind, also with all positive grades of execution and earned a score of 23.48. The bronze medal went to Team Excel with a score of 22.97, closely followed by the Skyliners who skated into fourth place with a score of 22.91. Fifth place went to National Blades with a score of 15.06. 

The event continued with preliminary group B, consisting of six teams all competing for a spot on the podium. Winning the gold with a score of 23.79 and positive grades of execution on every element was New Jersey Skyliners, followed by Gate City Synchro with a score of 18.90 earning them the silver medal. Mirror Images scored 17.79 and clenched the bronze medal, and Shooting Stars earned a score of 16.35 concluding the podium. Philadelphia Symmetry followed in fifth with a score of 14.13 and DC EDGE Red scored a 12.74 and concluded preliminary group B. Harlem Ice and Team Image withdrew from the event. 

The intermediate division consisted of six teams vying for a medal, as CP Ice, DC EDGE, Mirror Images, and Team Image Black withdrew from the event. Teams Elite was awarded the highest intersection as well as all positive grades of execution for each element earning them the gold medal and a score of 71.99. Star Mates also received all positive grades of execution on each element, putting them in second place with a score of 64.55. The Skyliners followed in third with a score of 57.80, Team Excel followed swiftly behind with a score of 56.07 earning them fourth place. New Jersey Black Diamonds placed fifth with a score of 45.76 and Team Delaware earned a score of 38.29 putting them in sixth. 

The masters event came next with Esprit de Corps having a clean skate, with a score of 47.27 capturing the gold medal. They were the only masters team entered, as Gotham City Synchro withdrew from the event. 

The open juvenile division was a close race to the podium with less than four points separating first and seventh place. Initially, eleven teams entered the event. Philadelphia Symmetry, Shadows, and Team Asburn withdrew, leaving nine teams to compete. Teams Elite placed first with a score of 45.91. With three falls, The Colonials skated into second place with the highest program component score in the division and earned a total score of 44.51. Synchro Stars landed in third place with a score of 43.80. CNY Blizzard rounded out the podium with a score of 43.26. Team Excel (42.71), Superettes (42.42), DC EDGE (42.32), Mirror Images (38.91), and National Blades (38.62) followed closely behind in the open juvenile event. 

The day concluded with the novice division with three teams entered. Teams Elite earned a score of 77.68 winning them the gold medal, followed by Team Delaware with a score of 55.37 earning them a silver medal, with IceLiners following in third place with a score of 49.96. DC EDGE, Ice Mates, Skyliners Black, Team Ashburn, and Team Image withdrew from the event. 

Day two commenced with the 6.0 open collegiate event. The University of New Hampshire took home the gold medal as they competed with Sunday’s sun rise. 

Following the open collegiate division was the first IJS event of the day; the juvenile division. CP Ice, Shooting Stars, Team Ashburn, and Team Image withdrew from the event leaving five teams to compete. Teams Elite was the only team to receive positive grades of execution on all elements as well as the only team to have a clean program, earning them the gold medal with a score of 49.00. Despite having one fall, the Skyliners skated to the silver medal with a score of 43.62. Mini Mates followed close behind with a score of 43.18 earning them the silver medal, the pewter medal went to Team Excel with a score of 37.51, and DC EDGE placed fifth with a score of 30.76. 

The IJS events concluded with three teams in the adult division. Esprit de Corps was awarded the highest level intersection and positive grade of execution on all elements, earning them the gold medal with a score of 56.65. Mirror Images came in second place with a score of 44.99, and the bronze medal was awarded to Team Tenacity with a score of 38.58. Empire Edge and Gotham City Synchro withdrew from the event. 

Going back to 6.0 events, the open masters division had three teams entered. Maine DownEasters won the division with first place ordinals from six of the seven judges, with Philadelphia Symmetry placing second, and the Colonials earning third place. 

The open adult division followed the open masters with four teams entered. Cutting edge placed first, Ocean Blades earned the silver medal, followed by Philly Spirit in third, and the Colonials rounded out the podium with the pewter medal. 

From one of the oldest events to the youngest, aspire snowplow sam followed open masters with Exton Edge being the only team entered and capturing the gold medal. 

The aspire events continue with the aspire pre-preliminary division, consisting of four teams. Snowflakes took the gold and received first place ordinals from every judge, followed by Team Excel in second place, Team Image in third, and CNY Chill placing fourth. 

The next 6.0 event was the aspire preliminary division which was divided into Group A and B. In Group A, the New Jersey Black Diamonds captured first place with first place ordinals from every judge while Exton Edge followed in second place. Lady Jacks and Sprites withdrew from the event. In Group B, Connecticut Rinkettes also received first place ordinals from every judge, followed by Team Delaware in second place. Ice Lantics and Team Excel withdrew from the event. 

The event concluded with the aspire beginner division which was split into Group A and B. In Group A, Gate City Synchro received all first place ordinals from every judge and took home the gold. The Noreasters cliched the silver medal and Connecticut Rinkettes capturing the bronze medal. In Group B, Team Excel won the gold with a 3/1 majority with Ice Fusion earning second place. 

Congratulations to all the teams who competed at the event! We hope all skaters, coaches, and volunteers stay safe and healthy as teams prepare to compete their programs at Sectionals and potentially advance to the 2022 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Be sure to follow Get It Called to follow along for the remainder of the 2021-2022 competitive season!