Miami University
Dr. Richard Porter Classic (All)
RedHawk Skaters Complete Season-Opening Competition
12/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Synchronized Skating
Dec. 5, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--Miami University's synchronized skating teams completed their first competition of the season, skating in the Dr. Porter Classic Dec. 4-5. The RedHawk senior team finished in fourth, the collegiate team took second place and the junior team finished fifth.
"I thought all three teams were solid for our first time out," said Miami Head Coach Carla DeGirolamo. "We skated well and had good performances, so I'm pleased with this as our first outing of the season. We will take the feedback from the judges and look at what areas we need to improve and focus on those elements as we prepare for our next competitions in January. We will keep pushing and drilling, so our performances are a little clearer for next time."
Performing its free skate program themed "Hypnotized in a Dream," the RedHawk senior team had a clean skate and posted a score of 108.20 to finish the competition in fourth place among the nine-team field with an overall score of 167. 50. Team Unique had a strong free skate to overtake the Haydenettes on the final day and win the Dr. Porter Classic with an overall score of 188.12. The Haydenettes followed with a combined score of 116.40, while the Crystallettes finished third (172.14). Miami's score was nearly 30 points better than the fifth-place California Gold score (138.66).
Miami's collegiate team finished a mere .40 points out of first place among the 10-team field with its performance themed "Brazilian Carnival." Michigan won the collegiate division with a score of 85.68, followed by Miami (85.28), Michigan State (83.54) and Delaware (82.41). The remainder of the field trailed the top four teams by 13 points or more.
The RedHawk junior team moved up a place on the final day with their program themed "Broadway Bound." Sitting in sixth place heading into the free skate program, Miami overtook Evolution to claim fifth place among the nine-team field, jumping nearly eight points ahead of Evolution in the final standings. The RedHawks posted a score of 77.82 in the free skate, despite a fall during the program, and finished with a combined score of 118.30. Gold Ice won the junior division (154.00), followed by Skyliners (151.88), Nexxice (136.52), Chicago Jazz (131.34), Miami (118.30) and Evolution (110.38).
Miami returns to the ice when the junior team heads to Fond du Lac, Wis., for the Junior World Team Selection Competition Jan. 7-8. The RedHawk senior and collegiate teams will be in action the following week at the Mid-America Championships in Fraser, Mich., Jan. 15-16.
