Synchronized Skaters Dare to DREAM
12/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Synchronized Skating
Dec. 14, 2011
by Melissa Maykut
Ashleigh Ostin's skating career at Miami required three simple ingredients: skates, synchronized skating, and an inspirational coach.
At the age of three, Ostin found a second home on the ice when she put her first pair of skates to the test. Three years later, Ostin fell in love with the world of synchronized skating. Finally, Erin Donovan, who had been part of Miami University's senior synchronized skating team from 1997-01, coached Ostin when she skated with the Hockettes in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Put these three key ingredients together and you get a strong and radiant skater who followed in her coach's footsteps and made Miami's senior skating team as a freshman.
Taking her dream a step further this year, Ostin is one of 10 young skaters chosen for the U.S. Figure Skating DREAM Program to serve as an ambassador for the sport.
"Really, we're just 10 skaters from different teams that kind of just set an example for young skaters," Ostin explained.
The DREAM (Determination, Responsibility, Education, Achievement, and Motivation) Program, was founded by Rebecca Search in 2008. Search had been a member of the 2007 World Silver Medal Team at Miami University, and after she graduated she began working with U.S. Figure Skating. The program was created so that synchronized skaters across the nation could represent the sport and share their experiences with younger skaters, family, and fans.
In order to apply for the program, high school and college skaters must be part of a Team USA synchronized skating team. Once the 10 skaters are chosen, they are part of the program for two years, then "graduate." Although the 10 skaters do not travel, skate, and grow together like they do with their teammates, Ostin likes how the program ties all the different synchronized skating teams together.
"We're all on different teams. We actually compete against each other, so it's kind of funny. But it's cool because it brings everyone together and unites the different teams."
Throughout the two years Ostin will be in the program, she will write blogs to keep fans updated on what is happening with her and the RedHawks, she will go to camps and speak to younger skaters about synchronized skating, write articles for SKATING magazine and attend the U.S Synchronized Skating Training Festival in the summer.
The U.S. Synchronized Skating Training Festival is the one nationally sanctioned festival of the year where young skaters can go and work with all the Team USA coaches and the 10 skaters from the DREAM Program. This is the one opportunity where the DREAM skaters form a routine and perform together on the ice for the younger skaters to see.
For junior skater Lauren Bracken, one of the greatest parts of being part of the DREAM program and going to the festival was sharing her experiences and life lessons like teamwork and commitment with younger skaters.
Bracken was one of the 10 original skaters of the DREAM Program. She had applied her senior year in high school when she was still skating for her senior team, the California Gold. Unlike most skaters who only serve for two years, Bracken stayed on for a third year with four other skaters in order to help the new five skaters learn the ropes of the program.
Although Bracken is retired from the program now, she loved representing synchronized skating and being a role model for younger skaters.
"I think the biggest part for me was to be able to give back and show my love and passion for synchronized skating to younger athletes."
For senior skater Sarah Arnold, the DREAM Program has given her a chance to inspire young athletes while allowing her to expand on her passion for photography.
Arnold is a communications major at Miami with a strong focus in photography, and has been able to show her photographs on the DREAM Program's Facebook, blog, and SKATING Magazine.
"I've seen that I've not only been able to speak, write and be an advocate for the sport, but I've also been able to incorporate my photographs in it."
Since Arnold's name has been heard through her writing and photographs for the DREAM Program, she has had interviews for sports marketing and photojournalism positions following college.
For some athletes like Bracken, the DREAM Program is about giving back to synchronized skating. For others like Arnold, the program leads to potential careers. However, for athletes like Ostin who are just beginning their ambassador careers, being part of the program is a great honor and opportunity to inspire young skaters to fall in love with synchronized skating.
"I always had someone - whether it was a coach or a skater - that was guiding me through my career and made me want to stay in the sport," Ostin explained. "So it's cool that I get to be able to give back in that way, and that younger girls can look up to me. Hopefully I can inspire them to stay in the sport and love it just like I do."
This year, the DREAM Program has 11 skaters representing the program. In addition to Ostin, Ashley Mulhern -- a freshman on the Miami senior team -- is also one of the 11 members of the DREAM Program. To learn more about the program, go to U.S Figure Skating DREAM Program.
To see what the skaters and their teams are up to, fans can follow them on Facebook and through the skaters' blogs at Dare to Dream.
Players Mentioned
