Festivities got under way with a skating  tribute to the Boston Red Sox, to the tune of “Let’s Get It Started,” where skaters in Red Sox T-shirts enacted a Bosox homer met with good natured groans by the Team Image section.

Staged  by host synchronized skating club, The Colonials there was a program with a message, “The Evolution of a Skater,” where various age groups of skaters from child to adult demonstrated how the discipline and dedication to skating builds character, will, toughness, tenacity, poise, and the ability to get up off the ice and skate.

 The pairs skaters – all local stars this reporter believes -- wowed the audience with throw triple salchows, lifts, and acrobatics in dancing spotlights thrilling the assembled parents and Juvenile teams about to skate with possibilities.

Evolution of a Skater

 As the narrator said, after introducing the “Evolution of a Skater,” no other sport prepares a young person more for the challenges of life than figure skating.

 Opening ceremonies featured the parade of the banners of 107 synchronized skating teams from coast-to-coast from Juvenile to Adult Masters, which is really impressive what with 20 skaters on each team , you had at least 2,000 or more skaters on hand for these championships plus parents coaches and entourage. And, there were no ESPN or CNN, or  local television stations to be seen covering these championships. Another example of how women’s sports get no media respect in this country.

Juvies Finest Hour

 At 11, the competition began with the Juvenile ( 11 and Under) competition, the first three teams to skate each encountered at least one fall, it was time for Team Image to take the ice. The girls in green took the ice with confidence and skated strongly cleanly with blocks on like, their 4-spoke wheel  defined and their backward splice lunge dashing. They were the first to skate without a faux pas. All agreed their last skate of the season was their best skate of the season. Congrats are in order to Jillian Baumeister, Alexandra Berliner, Diandra Brennan, Stephanie Damascus, Nicole Dzikas, Adrienne Henderson, Sarah Johnson, River Kynoch, Emma Leary, Abby Leibowitz, Elizabeth Mayhew, Chole McFadyen, Jessica Moh, Katie O’Brien, Izra Serrantes, Ashley Snow, Lauren Snow, Jacqueline Sullivan, and Alexandria Vicente.

 Nicole  Dzikas skated though she had been sick to her stomach most of the previous night, and Adrienne Henderson skated with a broken wrist. As Adrienne told her mom, “skaters skate.”

 The Juvenile division was won by the Chicago Jazz, with the Ice Cubes of the Haydenettes Organization, second, Team Elan of Detroit third and Gems on Ice of Plymouth fourth—despite two falls. Team Image placed 9^th of 12 teams, just behind The Colonials. They were all pleased with their skate and showing since they have never been this close to The Colonials all season.

Juniors Hang In There

 The Team Image Junior Team were scheduled for their short Technical Progam the first part of  the two step Junior competition in the late evening.  The Hockettes, the world’s first synchronized skating team from Ann Arbor Michigan (founded in 1956), skated third and held the lead up until the Chicago Jazz skated last and absolutely aced their skate to take the lead going into the Long program this evening. Team Image skating  14^th, suffered a fall in one of their moving blocks that cost them that element but executed the rest of the way.

 The technical program, as it does in solo figure skating competitions kills you, with the slightest mistake and Thursday evening was no exception.

 Team Image Novice team skates Friday Afternoon, and the Junior team skates their long program Friday evening.