Short Hills Skaters Earn Gold Medal In Sweden

The Skyliners Junior Synchronized Skating Team – which included two young athletes from Short Hills – recently earned a gold medal at the 2016 Leon Lurje Trophy in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Representing TEAM USA for the 8th year in a row and competing against an international cast of skaters, the Skyliners achieved a major feat — an American team earning a gold medal on the highly-competitive world synchro stage.

The team included Julia Damesek and Audrey Laude of Short Hills, according to a release.

“To see the raising of the flag and know that we had earned gold for America was truly amazing,” said Josh Babb, Skyliners Head Coach and Director of Synchronized Skating. “The girls took command of the ice and their strong, heartfelt performance paid off.”

Skyliners Junior skaters started their Short Program to a Michael Jackson medley. The next day, Skyliners Junior performed their Long Program to “Les Miserables.”

The team’s combined score of 167.23 points earned them the first place prize, according to a release.

In February, the Skyliners Junior line will compete at the French Cup among the most decorated synchro teams in the world. The Skyliners Senior line, also representing TEAM USA, will travel to Neuchatel, Switzerland this January to compete in the Neuchatel Trophy.

Send Millburn-Short Hills news tips to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos courtesy of Leigh Gold

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