Local Skaters Head To World Championship Representing Team USA

HIGHLAND PARK, IL – Skaters with Starlights Synchronized Skating Teams will represent Team USA at the junior world championships in Switzerland next week.

Competing on behalf of Team USA, Starlights Synchronized Skating Teams junior team earned a bronze medal on the Leon Lurje Trophy in Gothenburg, Sweden and a silver medal at the Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy in Zagreb, Croatia on February 8-9.

On Feb. 17, Starlights were selected one of two teams representing the United States in the 2019 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships on March 15-16 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Skyliners, from Stamford, Connecticut, and Monsey and Elmsford, New York were named USA 1 and Starlights will compete as USA 2, according to U.S. Figure Skating.

Last weekend, the East Coast team won a third consecutive junior championship last weekend at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Plymouth, Michigan. Starlights finished 10.53 points behind to take the silver medal after two straight third-place finishes.

Two Highland Park High School students — senior Brittney Rivelli and junior Samantha Levine — are on the team.

Deerfield High School seniors Lexi Chodash and Hailey Rosenberg are also on the squad, as is Glenbrook South senior Rachel Luo.

With home rinks in Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, the 2019 Starlights Roster includes members from around the Chicagoland area.

• Kristen Alexander — Lisle
• Maddie Beery — Glen Ellyn
• Abigail Berkowitz — Buffalo Grove
• Gaby Cabanelas — South Barrington
• Lexi Chodash — Deerfield
• Sam Dreyer — Palatine
• Justine Ferrer — Bartlett
• Liz Karagiannes — Mundelein
• Sammie Levine — Highland Park
• Chloe Lenz — Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
• Rachel Luo — Glenview
• Hannah McDougall — Buffalo Grove
• Abby McGuire — Hoffman Estates
• Sydney Moreno — Orland Park
• Brittney Rivelli — Highland Park
• Hailey Rosenberg — Deerfield
• Bailey Thorstenson — Crystal Lake
• Abba Ventura — Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
• Maddie Weaver — Green Oaks
• Elyse Wiese — Crystal Lake

The ISO World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships will get underway on Friday, March 15 in Switzerland. For more info and updates, check the world championships' website.

Earlier: Local Synchronized Skaters Win Bronze Medals In Sweden

Patch editor Amie Rowland contributed.