More than 20 years since its last appearance on the national stage, Stanford Figure Skating is returning to the U.S. Figure Skating National Intercollegiate Final after a season that has been nothing short of transformational. The NIF begins today and runs through Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"It's not just that the team made nationals, which alone is a titanic accomplishment. It's how the team was able to do it," Jonathan Ko, volunteer coach and recent alumnus, said.

For the team, this qualification marks a milestone for a program that has been steadily rebuilding. Stanford last reached the National Final in 2003 and 2004, during the club's early years. In 2003, at its national debut, the team placed eighth despite injuries and logistical challenges limiting its roster. The following years saw a period of inconsistency between recreational and competitive focuses, making the 2026 National Final all the more meaningful.

"I've always dreamt of our team being able to achieve this goal," financial officer and fifth-year Ph.D. student Alea Delmastro, said. "To see how much the team has grown and to finally achieve this goal is wonderful."

The Stanford University Figure Skating Club was founded in 2001 to foster a skating community at the university. Its first members included Jackie Wong, who is today known for his skating analysis on Rocker Skating, as well as Jenny Chen and Connie Chen.

A major turning point came in 2019, when a group of student-athletes began working to reestablish the team as a competitive intercollegiate program. After some pandemic-related challenges, the club officially became a recognized club sport on campus in 2021. Since then, the trajectory has included steady growth, increasing competitive success and a rising sense of community, including alumni support.

"It's truly just a community effort," Ko said. "It's a group of people who genuinely love this sport and love each other. I can't wait for the country to see the results of everyone's hard work."

Valentina Juricek, Stanford Figure Skating's co-president and a junior studying electrical engineering, added, "We're a truly diverse team in terms of skating backgrounds, commitment levels and years at Stanford, and it's created a beautiful and vibrant network of people who bring something truly unique to the table during practices and competition."
   
That culture defined the team's success this year, as they head to Salt Lake City as the 2026 Pacific Coast Section winners. The camaraderie fostered within the team and with other collegiate teams is something most skaters in individual sports won't encounter in their careers. But with intercollegiate team skating, the community and support fostered through the teams are present at every practice, competition and bonding opportunity.

"The collegiate skating community extends beyond the travel and training; it truly feels like you're skating alongside your teammates," Juricek said. "When you're on the ice performing, you can feel the energy and support from their cheers."

Stanford Figure Skating's road to Salt Lake City has not been without challenges. Without an on-campus rink, the team travels about 30 minutes each way to practice in San Jose. Logistics, like managing ice time and coordinating car pools, have always been obstacles. This year, designated team practices twice a week allowed for more consistent training and stronger team cohesion.

"It's one of the things that has helped our team improve this year," Delmastro said. "It's helped build the community because we see each other on the ice at the same time."
 
The roster reflects that growth. Stanford fielded 18 skaters across its competitions this season, with a broader club membership of nearly 35 skaters. Another unique aspect that sets Stanford apart from other intercollegiate teams is its student profile: nearly half of the team are graduate students.

The team's competitive results have improved each year as well, from seventh in the conference in earlier seasons to fifth last year, and now first. Still, the skaters with Stanford Figure Skating remain grounded.

"We didn't come into the season expecting this," former co-president and current safety officer Elizabeth Hong said. "We just focused on supporting each other and doing our best. I think that's why this means so much. We're just grateful to be here."

As Stanford prepares to compete at the NIF, the team's goals extend beyond placements.

"I just want everyone to be proud of the performances that they put out and feel like they're putting their best foot forward," Juricek said.  

For many skaters, competition offers an opportunity to explore new disciplines and continue developing skills in a low-pressure, supportive environment.

"There's a lot of excitement around just being there," Delmastro said. "Meeting new teams, making connections and experiencing the national stage; it's something special."

And above all, the team hopes this marks the beginning of a new era for Stanford Figure Skating.

"What we've built here, in terms of both community and team, is special, but it isn't a fluke," Ko said. "We're looking forward to this Nationals and hopefully many more."