Rink Report
9/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Synchronized Skating
Sept. 21, 2011
This is the first in a series of reports from members of Miami University senior, collegiate and junior synchronized skating teams that will be posted periodically throughout the year. Providing team updates for today's edition is senior Alyssa Sutter (senior team), senior Lauren McHenry (collegiate team) and sophomore Lauren Szandzik (junior team). All three Miami synchronized skating teams will be showcasing their competitive programs at Steve Cady Arena in a preseason exhibition on Saturday, Nov. 5.
 Miami University Senior Synchronized Skating Team--Photo by Sarah Arnold  | |
SENIOR TEAM
Photo Gallery Video
After a long summer comprised of individual training, our team was eager to get back onto the ice and begin training as a unit. These past three weeks have been a true whirl wind. After surviving a long and strenuous week of tryouts, our team only had one week to prepare before our choreographer would begin working with us on our long program.
Last week marked the start of choreography week. After hearing that we would be portraying gypsies in our long program, we were all eager to see what our choreographer, Sarah Kawahara, had in store for us. The constant fast and upbeat pace of the music presented a challenge to our team ... but our team was up for the challenge. We worked hard to get through eight-hour days of intense choreography. (On Thursday and Friday of choreography week, the team practiced from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and then again for five hours in the evening broken up into two sessions. On Saturday and Sunday, the team had two sessions each day that ran approximately four hours each.) Throughout those eight-hour days, our team began to develop more as a unit both on and off the ice. By continuing to encourage each other, we were able to complete a four-and-a-half minute program in a matter of days.
Last week was only a preview on what our team is capable of accomplishing this upcoming season. Each person was quick to adapt to new changes and welcomed each new challenge with open arms. Every girl, especially the eight rookies, did a phenomenal job retaining all the information being thrown at them. I have always been a firm believer that half of this sport is mental. The combination of great talent and positive attitudes we have on this team, I believe, is the perfect recipe to contend for a World Championship medal. We all have large goals and expectations for this year and are looking forward to breaking records!
Love and Honor,
Alyssa Sutter
(Alyssa is a four-year member of the senior team. She is a senior from Brighton, Michigan, who is majoring in mass communications with a minor in gerontology.)
COLLEGIATE TEAM
Even with just a week and a half of practices down, the collegiate team is coming together, training hard, and unbelievably excited for this season! This year, we are out to match Michelle Kwan's string of eight consecutive national championships, and I think every team member is up for the challenge.
Our first day of practice (now almost two weeks ago!) started the season off with a bang as we got right into on-ice interval training. The first week was filled with a lot of team skating skills, which really helped us to get used to skating with each other and begin to blend well on the ice.
My favorite moment so far with the collegiate team was the first time we heard our music for this season's program. It is a Beyonce medley, beginning with her cover of "At Last," followed by her cover of "Fever," and finishing with "Crazy in Love." Everyone had a look of excitement on their faces when our coaches played it for us at the first practice.
Since then, we have been working hard learning choreography and have already finished setting the elements for about half of the program! The skill level on the collegiate team increases every year, and it has been phenomenal to see what we have already been able to accomplish in such a short time period. We are all excited for our program this year and training hard so that we will be ready to have a strong season and defend our national titles.
Love and Honor,
Lauren McHenry
(Lauren is a two-year member of the collegiate team and a three-year member of the synchronized skating program. She is a senior from Raleigh, N.C., who is majoring in psychology with a minor in coaching.)
JUNIOR TEAM
Tryouts this year were difficult for both the skaters and coaches because the incoming talent exceeded a lot of our expectations, and it was clear that everyone trained and improved this summer. The coaches wasted no time after making their decisions for each team, and the next thing you know we're already putting together our programs.
The senior and collegiate teams have been working hard, but the junior team is no exception! As for a team made up of sixteen first-years and only two returning skaters, I'd say we're off to a great start! Even though we are all new to each other, we seem to have clicked right off the bat. The girls have great individual skills and each one brings a little something to the team that is very valuable. Of course we're still adjusting to skating within very close quarters of each other, and some have little to no synchro experience, but judging by the way we're looking this early in the season, I have faith that we'll be skating as one unit (and synchronized) in no time!
We absolutely love our program music and will have no problem getting into it when it comes time to perform. As of today, we are almost finished with our long program and should be starting our short program very soon.
One thing I've noticed about this team as a whole is the energy during practice. Putting together programs and adapting to multiple changes as it goes along can be very tedious, but these girls don't get frustrated easily. In fact, I have yet to see someone lose their patience and get frustrated. We all encourage each other and get excited even when we're asked to do the diagonal step sequence for the 11th time in a row. It doesn't bother us!
Having a good attitude is one of the most important parts of being an athlete, and this year the junior team has already established a positive environment by having good attitudes. We will continue to push ourselves and set the bar high, and come together as a team to reach our goals. This is only the beginningââ'¬Â¦.I am very much looking forward to what's in store for us this year!
Love and Honor,
Lauren Szandzik
(Lauren is a two-year member of the junior team. She is a sophomore from Darien, Illinois, who is majoring in marketing with a minor in 2-D media studies.)
Players Mentioned
