Synchronized skaters approach upcoming season with high hopes, great expectations

Liberty University's synchronized skating team is gearing up for its first competition of the season on Nov. 2 at the Stars and Stripes Synchro invitational in Woodbridge, Va. The Lady Flames are looking ahead to a season full of promise and potential, both on the ice and in the team's spiritual development through ministry outreach.

With 14 student-athletes on this season's roster, Liberty is aiming to skate at the Collegiate level in the near future to be eligible to compete in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Collegiate National Championships, which requires a minimum of 12 skaters. For now, Head Coach Hannah Pulley is focused on raising the bar as the Lady Flames remain classified as an Open Collegiate program.

Four new recruits have already made a strong impact on the team's program and spiritual culture.

"The freshman come in and they're just already ecstatic to be here," Pulley said. "They are very strong skaters that are coming in and growing our team and the level of our team."

Each new season brings renewed excitement for the success of the team and how each skater can contribute to the overall performances.

"Last season we grew a ton in our skating skills as a whole and we were able to put everything out on ice that they could and perform and skate for the glory of God," Pulley said. "This season, I'm really excited about where we are at with our skating level. We have a harder program, harder choreography, and harder steps in the program. So definitely with the program being harder and hoping that we'll be able to be higher up in the rankings, I'm super excited to see how they do at competition."

The success of this team trickles down from Pulley and Assistant Coach Haley Gram to the leadership of student coordinators specifically in charge of on-ice, off-ice, as well as social and spiritual development of the team.

Sophomore Ava Galitsky serves as the on-ice coordinator while junior Ella Micalizzi is the off-ice coordinator and senior McKenna Powers is the social coordinator.

Graduate Hailey Jordan is the Lady Flames' designated Disciple Making Team representative and has positively affected the spiritual culture.

"She hosts Bible studies once or twice a month and has events for the team and leads our team devotionals at competitions," Pulley said. "She includes fun activities with the Bible studies each month."

The way that this team emphasizes spiritual growth and representing Liberty to the skating community at different competitions is something that continues to bring glory to the Lord through the sport.

"Skating for God is the reason people come to Liberty because they recognize what we are a part of," Pulley said. "Because skating is more of a secular community, we like to talk and show positivity at competitions by giving away water bottles, little things like that, things that kind of make us stand out in a positive light."

Pulley said the second annual Stars and Stripes Synchro Invitational will be a good first test for the team.

"It's a little bit of a smaller competition, and we wanted to get the girls in front of the judges before our first big competition, which is the (Nov. 22-24) Boston Classic," she said.

The team will look to peak for the Jan. 23-25 Eastern Synchro Skating Sectional Championships at the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pa..

By Amory Doyle/Student Writer; Video edited by Noah Ritcher/Club Sports Video & Media Assistant
Synchro-blue-jackets

Synchronized skaters approach upcoming season with high hopes, great expectations

Players Mentioned

Ava Galitsky

Hailey Jordan

Ella Micalizzi

McKenna Powers

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