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Synchronized skating takes eighth at World Championship

By Jack Reyering, The Miami Student

The Miami University senior synchronized skating team took eighth place at the ISU World Championships with an overall score of 171.79 April 11 in Ontario. Miami was one of two U.S. teams to compete in the 25-team field.

The RedHawks' Elvis Medley to "Heartbreak Hotel," "A Little Less Conversation" and "Blue Suede Shoes" gave them a score of 117.06 in the long program.

With a score of 214.73, Team Canada 1 edged Team Finland 1 (214.06) to capture the world title. Team Russia 1 finished third with a combined score of 203.48.

MU qualified for the World Championships after placing second in the U.S. National Championships.

Now that the competitive season has ended, both the skaters and coaches are very pleased with the team's performances all year, especially at the World Championships.

"Today was the perfect finale to a season of hard work and passion," senior captain Jennifer Stewart said. "I've never skated with such dedicated people and tonight was just the cherry on top showing everyone all the hard work we put in."

Six seniors concluded their collegiate careers at the world competition. Stewart was thrilled at the way the senior class performed in their final contest.

"This has been the most amazing way to finish out my year at Miami," Stewart said. "Miami has been the most incredible four years of my life, and the journey's been crazy and a lot of hard work, but this was the perfect way to end it."

Head coach Carla DeGirolama said the team hadn't participated in such stiff competition in such a large field all year. It was the first time Miami failed to place in the top three in its 11th appearance. However, DeGirolama was pleased with how her team stepped up in their biggest competition of the year.

"Our goal was to come out and make a statement; I think they came out and made a statement," DeGirolama said. "From beginning to end it had great energy, great intensity; it was fast, it was fun, and it got the crowd on their feet."

The eighth place finish caps off a successful season for the team. The 'Hawks placed in the top three in every competition this year.

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Though the competitive season is over, synchronized skating will perform in the annual Miami University Ice Show May 1-2.