Contact: Jim Flanagan
Press Release
HAYDENETTES LEAD SYNCHRO TEAMS AT U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lexington, MA, March 6, 2010 –The Haydenettes, with a commanding performance on the way to their 18th U.S. Title, led five of the Hayden synchro teams at U.S Figure Skating’s Synchronized Championships this past weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joining the Haydenettes at the top of the medal podiums with Gold Medals were the Ice Mates in the Novice Division and the Esprit de Corps Adult team. Hayden’s Junior team the Lexettes won the Bronze Medal and the Esprit de Corps Masters team finished just out of medals with a top five performance.
The talked about event from the four-day competition was the dominating performance by the Haydenettes. Many expected the Senior division would be more competitive, with teams across the country cranking up the both technical and athletic aspects of their programs, presumably narrowing the competition. However, the Haydenettes won both the short program and free skate events, each by more than ten points to distance themselves from the competition by more than twenty points in the final scoring. The Haydenettes performance is underscored by the fact that their scores set a new American Record for total points by a team. Throughout the practices during the week leading up to the event the team showed a quiet and focused confidence, having put in the effort all season to regain the National title as one of their goals leading up to the World Championships. The World Championships will be held in Colorado Springs in early April, only the second time this Championship will be held in the U.S.
The Ice Mates, the youngest of Hayden’s elite level teams, whose ages range from 12 to 15, regained the top spot in the Novice division after winning the Silver medal during the 2009 Championships. Working hard and training all season the Mates embraced both the technical and athletic aspects of their program. Their presentation showed emotion, sensitivity and they communicated the Bedtime Magic theme of their program to the audience and Judges.
The Lexettes won their third consecutive U.S. Bronze Medal, qualifying the team once again for U.S. Figure Skating’s “Team USA” designation. Team USA is the group of skaters and teams that will make up the U.S. contingent in international competitions next season. The Junior Division remains highly competitive, demanding the best in these athletes. The Lexettes free skate program was one of the most technically difficult and they grabbed the audience with their jumpin' jazz retro swing music.
Hayden’s Esprit de Corps teams continue to demonstrate that competitive desire, passion and fun of figure skating does not end with college, career and family. The Esprit teams are consistently at the top of the competition. The Esprit Adult team ran away with the Adult Division U.S. Championship. Skating to music from Saturday Night Fever, the team showed excellent skating skills and an enthused interpretation to this dance-oriented music, with both former Haydenettes and other talented skaters on the team.
The competitive season is over for all the synchro teams except the Haydenettes who now turn their focus to their ultimate goal…the World Championships and a medal on the World podium. “This team has achieved virtually all of their goals thus far,” said Saga Krantz, head coach and director of synchronized skating for the Hayden teams. “There’s one more step to achieve their goal. In order for them to take that step to the podium it will require two strong athletic performances, skating technically perfect and interpreting the themes of the two programs against the twenty or so best teams in the World,” concluded Krantz.