Since the age of three, political science prelaw junior Christine Burke has been performing on ice.
“I started skating at my grandparents’ house on the lake,” Burke said. “My mom put a pair of skates on me and I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
With so few premier collegiate synchronized skating teams in the country, Burke knew she belonged on the MSU Synchronized Skating Team. After placing third in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championship in 2014, Burke said the team is looking to further their success this season.
“To get better we need to go 100 percent at every practice and keep a positive attitude no matter what,” Burke said.
The team trains at Munn Ice Arena about three days a week. Practices normally consist of six hours on ice, two hours off ice and an hour workout.
“The hardest part about practice is when we are learning or trying something new for the first time, and it isn’t working out the way my coach envisioned it,” economics senior Miranda Shaver said. “Especially after a long day at school, something not working right can get frustrating.”
“My teammates are my best friends and I feel like I learn something new from them everyday, both on and off the ice,” Shaver said.
Anthropology junior and team secretary Katelyn Dalla Valle said teamwork is key to their success.
“I love having the support system away from home of my team,” Dalla Valle said. “We are all a big family and I feel like I always have people there for me.”
Head coach and MSU alumna Laura Sienkowski also emphasizes the importance of practice to her skaters.
“My goal for the team is to skate at competitions the exact same way they do at practice,” Sienkowski said. “To skate with aggression, attack their elements as a team, and bring a presence to the ice that draws in not only the judging panel, but the audience as well.”
Sienkowski said her love of coaching grows more and more each season.
“Each season brings something new — new challenges, new personalities, new ways of coaching,” Sienkowski said. “Each year I get skaters with all different skating backgrounds and competitive histories, and it is my job to unify the different skating styles into one.”
According to the team’s Facebook page, recruitment and auditions occur in April. But individual auditions can be arranged anytime.
The MSUSST’s first competition will take place in Ann Arbor at the beginning of December. The other collegiate competitions continue throughout the winter until the first week of March.
