RedHawk Skating Teams Head to National Championships
2/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Synchronized Skating
Miami Senior, Collegiate and Junior Teams at
U.S. National Championships
Feb. 25-27 - Kalamazoo, Mich.
U.S. National Championship Website | Results | Live Video (Subscription)
When the RedHawks compete in the U.S. National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., this weekend, all three teams are vying for national titles.
The Miami University senior synchronized skating team seeks to earn its 12th overall berth to the ISU World Championship with a top-two finish at nationals. Miami has had a strong season and tries for the program's fourth national crown at the senior level and first since 2008-09. Miami placed first at the Anaheim ICE Competition and the Dr. Richard Porter classic and earned two international silver medals at the Mozart Cup and also at the Spring Cup last weekend.
Miami's collegiate team has dominated the division and is the 11-time defending national champion in search of the program's 18th national collegiate title. The collegiate team already owns the U.S. Figure Skating record for most consecutive national titles in any discipline at any level of skating and tries to extend that mark. The RedHawks have two first-place finishes this season and are coming off a third-place finish at the Midwestern Championships.
The RedHawk junior team also looks for gold this weekend. A finish among the top three would be a first for a Miami junior team at the national championships. The junior team had a second-place finish at Synchro Illinois and a bronze-medal finish at the Midwestern Championships. The RedHawks are coming off a seventh-place finish at the Junior World Qualifier.
Miami's senior team performs its short program to the song "Breath of Life". The RedHawks' free skate program has a Latin dance theme.
The collegiate team's program has a USA theme.
For the junior short program, the RedHawks skate to the "Survivor/I Will Survive" medley from Glee. The free skate program has a Disney villainess theme.
Breakdown of the U.S. National Championships by Team
Senior Team
Competition Field (8 teams): Miami University, Skyliners, Haydenettes, ICE'Kateers, Crystallettes, Adrian College, Team Excel, Team Del Sol
Short Program: Thursday, Feb. 25 - 8:14 p.m. (MU competes at 8:57 p.m.)
Free Skate Program: Saturday, Feb. 28 - 5:47 p.m.
Collegiate Team
Competition Field (12 teams): Miami University, University of Illinois, Team North Dakota, University of Michigan, Boston University, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, Adrian College, Michigan State University, University of Massachusetts, Western Michigan University, Metroettes
Program: Saturday, February 27 - 2:51 p.m. (MU competes at 4:31 p.m.)
Junior Team
Competition Field (13 teams): Miami University, Lexettes, Hockettes, Starlights, California Gold, Crystallettes, Skyliners, Rose City Crystals, Silver Stars, Synchroettes, Fond du Lac Blades, Chicago Jazz, Team Delaware.
Short Program: Thursday, Feb. 25 - 6 p.m. (MU competes at 7:48 p.m.)
Free Skate Program: Friday, Feb. 26 - 6:37 p.m.
