Starlights Skaters Heading for National Championships and Overseas

Following a strong season of medal-winning performances at synchronized skating competitions throughout the Midwest, several Starlights teams have earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage and for their country overseas.

At the 2012 Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, held last month in Plymouth, Michigan, four Starlights teams qualified to compete at synchronized skating’s upcoming national championships.

The Starlights Juvenile team won silver medals in Plymouth, earning a 2nd place finish among 14 teams. In fact, the Juvenile team has practically cornered the silver market this season – winning four silver medals out of five competitions. Their strong performance at sectionals earned them an invitation to compete against the best teams in the country at the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Synchronized Skating Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts from March 1 – 3.

Joining the Juvenile Team at the National Championships will be the Starlights Novice Team, which earned a top 5 finish at the sectional championships as well as two gold and two silver medal performances in pervious competitions. The Starlights Adult team also punched their tickets to the U.S. Championships, earning 3rd place bronze medals at sectional championships.

Rounding out the Starlights squads heading to Worchester is the Senior Team, which earned a 2nd place finish in Plymouth. But before they head to Worchester, Senior Team skaters will need their passports for a big trip overseas to compete against the world’s best synchronized teams.

The Senior Team has been invited by U.S. Figure Skating to represent Team USA at the Spring Cup 2012 international synchronized skating competition in Milan, Italy, February 17-19. Starlights skaters will go up against synchronized teams from France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia and Sweden. It marks the third consecutive year the Senior Team will compete overseas. 

“We’re really proud of the hard work and effort all our teams showed throughout the season,” said Starlights skating director Chris Heiser. “In addition to our teams heading to the U.S. Championships, our Preliminary and Intermediate teams also made giant leaps of improvement this year and really put themselves in position for bright futures moving forward.”

Local crowds can get a sneak peak of the Starlights in competitive form. All Starlights teams will be showcased at an upcoming synchronized skating exhibition on Sunday, February, 26 at 4:45 p.m. at Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills.

About the Starlights

The Starlights are affiliated with the Skokie Valley Skating Club and all teams practice at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove and The Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills, IL. Skater levels are determined by U.S. Figure Skating test level and age.  Skaters 13 and under compete on the Preliminary and Juvenile teams while the Novice and Intermediate teams typically feature skaters in their mid-to-late teens. The Starlights’ Senior Team is made up of 20 skaters at least 14-years-old and over. Skaters on the Starlights’ Adult team must be at least 21, with a majority over 25. For more information on all Starlights synchronized skating teams please visit www.starlights.us or www.usfigureskating.org.