The Miami University synchronized skating teams are ready to skate their way through the 2010-11 season and earn national titles in March.

Last season, the senior team placed third at the national championships, missing the chance to go to the world championships. The collegiate team earned another national title last season, becoming six-time defending national champions. Following their season opening competition, the senior, collegiate and junior skating teams are in high hopes of having another great season.

For all of those who are new to synchronized skating, or even those who are already fans, there are differences between the senior, collegiate and junior skating teams.

First, there is the senior team. The senior team is made up of the best 20 skaters and is the most competitive team. It competes internationally and against club organizations (not just university teams).            

"Building off of last season, they're definitely working their way back up to the top this season," said Ashley Korn, daughter of Vicki Korn, who was the synchronized skating coach for 25 years.

Vicki Korn made the Miami skating team into the nation's first senior collegiate synchronized skating team. Her daughter, Ashley, skated for the RedHawks for four years and now is an intern with the synchronized skating team.

Next is the collegiate skating team. This team is similar to an NCAA team, competing only against universities. An interesting fact about this team is that they are one of the nation's only fully funded teams.            

"They have a reputation of winning," Korn said. "Each year they are very focused on how far they can get. They work well together, and it is nice to see them carrying on traditions from my time when I was skating on the team."

Finally, there is the junior team. This team is made up of mostly freshmen and some sophomores. They are the younger version of the senior team and also compete internationally.

"Most of the girls were single skaters, but they have been adjusting very well," Korn said. "They are adapting to the changes and having 16 bodies around them. They are working very well together and mesh well."

The RedHawks traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich. to compete in the Dr. Porter Classic.

The senior team, which skates its short program to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and its free skate program to "Hypnotized in a Dream," placed fourth out of its nine competitors. The collegiate team placed second out of 10 teams with the "Brazilian Carnival" themed program.

Finally, the junior team placed fifth. The team did its short program to the songs "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Heartbreaker" and performed their free skate program to "Broadway Star," a collection of songs from Broadway musicals.

Each of the teams had clean and solid performances. The collegiate team was only 0.40 points out of first place, and the junior team actually moved up a place from Saturday to Sunday despite an unfortunate fall during their free skate program.

The senior and collegiate teams will return to action Jan. 15 and 16 when they travel to Fraser, Mich. to compete in the Mid-America Championships. The junior team returns to Jan. 7 and 8 to compete in the Junior World Selection Competition in Wisconsin.