A local team of 16 synchronized skaters representing the ONYX Suburban Skating Academy in Rochester had the performance of a lifetime last month at the Midwestern Synchronized Skating Championships in North Dakota, narrowly making the list of top Novice division teams to qualify for the 2017 National Synchronized Skating Championships later this month in Illinois. This competition is the only National Synchronized Skating Championships in the U.S., and is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating.
The 16 skaters from the ONYX Synchro Novice team, ranging in age from 13 to 17, will travel to Rockford, Illinois, February 22 – 25 to compete against the top teams in the nation. For most of the skaters, this is their first trip to a National Championships as well as their first time competing in the Novice division. The skaters train with the team three times per week for 2-3 hours, incorporating ballet and fitness training into their regimen, while also practicing multiple additional days with private coaches. Training begins in June for the current season.
“We are thrilled that in our first season competing as ONYX Synchro, our skaters have made such incredible progress,” said ONYX Synchro Director Helene Wolf, who has coached many teams at the National level outside of the ONYX. “Not only have they developed as skaters, increasing their score by more than 25 percent over the beginning of the season, but they came together to perform as a team and earn this spot at Nationals. We could not be more proud of this team.”
With only four weeks to prepare for the trip to the Championships, the team is seeking help with funding of the team bus needed for transporting the team as a group. As synchronized skaters, the members do not receive any assistance or scholarships to train or compete. To donate to this non-profit group, visit www.gofundme.com/onyx-novice-team-nationals-fund.
The skaters perform a 3-and-a-half minute program to music centered on the theme of a magical, mysterious and quirky Night Circus, featuring “trapeze artists,” death spiral pairs and plenty of creepy smiles and fun expression to entertain their audiences. The final piece, from Sideshow the Broadway musical, speaks to celebrating the diversity of humanity and accepting the differences amongst ourselves.
ONYX Synchronized Skating teams represent the ONYX Suburban Skating Academy in Rochester, Michigan. Founded in 2016, the nonprofit organization currently fields six teams of varying ages, from pre-K through adult. Tryouts are held annually in the spring. Visit www.ONYXSynchro.com or ONYX Synchro on Facebook.