The Miami University synchronized skating team stole the show in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships on March 5 with a record-setting performance.
In Colorado Springs, Colo., the collegiate team launched themselves to the 20th national championship title in the history of the program. Meanwhile, the seniors clinched a silver medal and a spot at representing the United States at the World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Assigned the opening spot of the 7:30 p.m. collegiate team session, the RedHawks came off with flying colors: They scored an astounding 116.95 points, topping the 13-team championship.
In an interview with US Figure Skating, Miami head coach Carla DeGirolamo praised her team’s effort after a year off from competition during the 2020-21 school year.
"Having had a year of training, a lot of skill work, a lot of strength work and putting in the hours when nobody is watching,” DeGirolamo said. “I think they have taken the ice with so much joy and gratitude and excitement."
Better yet, they surpassed their own record of 113.70, set at the Midwestern Championships on Jan. 29, 2022.
Other teams that made the podium also broke the one-hundred-point mark are Adrian College with 105.74 points and Western Michigan University with 104.30 points. The fourth and final spot on the podium went to University of Michigan who scored 97.95 points.
The senior team followed at 10:30 p.m. with a season-high of 140.84 points, therefore, topping the free skate session. With this result, they cobbled together a total of 214.67 points to place second and secure a ticket to the forthcoming ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship.
Alongside the RedHawks on the world stage are the first-place Haydenettes. The Massachusetts-based team amassed 218.86 points overall to take the gold medal at the national championships.
Having topped every competition they participated in this year, the collegiate team rounded out their season with the twentieth national title in the 25-year history of the program.
The senior team last represented the United States in the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2016 held in Budapest, Hungary. This year, they will travel to Hamilton, Ontario for the competition on Apr. 8-9.
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