Walpole Skaters Compete In U.S. Synchronized Skating Champion

WALPOLE, MA — Two Walpole residents will compete on Boston-based Team Excel Junior at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Ursuline Academy students, Emily Schneider and Alise Schneider, recently qualified for the competition, which is from Feb. 26 to the 29th in Providence, RI.

The Schneider girls skate as part of Boston-based Team Excel Junior, a synchronized skating team representing the Skating Club of Boston.

Team Excel Junior took second place at the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships earlier in January, earning them a bid to compete on the national stage. In addition to its Junior Team, Team Excel Juvenile, Collegiate, and Adult have also qualified to compete at the U.S. Championships.

“I would like to commend Emily and Alise and all our Team Excel skaters for their accomplishments,” said Team Excel Director of Synchronized Skating Merita Mullen.

Synchronized skating is a demanding discipline of figure skating in which teams of eight to 20 skaters perform a program together, blending elements of singles skating, pairs skating and ice dance. Programs are characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. Athletes in this sport work and train diligently year-round. Team Excel’s teams practice eleven months a year, for a minimum of eight hours a week, on and off the ice.

In addition, each skater trains with private coaches on individual skating skills, such as footwork,
edge quality, free style jumps and spins, and ice dance.

Photo caption:

Back Row: Brooke Robbins, Nicole Catalano, Amy Gordon, Madeline Amidon, Casandra Douglass, Belina Vezza
Middle Row: Alexa Ells, Catherine Callahan, Sierra Madden, Hannah Parker, Emily Schneider, Olivia Lynch
Front Row: Grace McMurray, Genevieve Gerenz, Allie Lewis, Brianna McIntyre, Alise Schneider