Above: The Haydenettes compete early last fall. Photo credit: Cynthia Slawter
The reigning World silver medalists Haydenettes lead Team USA into the second of four Challenger Series events this weekend, Jan. 24–25, at the Dresden Cup in Dresden, Germany.
The team from Norwood, Massachusetts, will be the sole senior team representing Team USA but will be joined by junior teams Teams Elite and Skyliners junior for the competition at JOYNEXT Arena.
The Haydenettes, the 31-time and reigning U.S. champions, made history at the end of last season, becoming only the second U.S. team to earn a silver medal at the World Championships. Leading up to the 2024 World Synchronized Skating Championships, the Haydenettes earned a gold medal at 2024 Hevelius Cup and a silver medal at the 2024 Budapest Cup.
The Dresden Cup marks their first international competition of the season.
Teams Elite, hailing from Northbrook, Illinois, come in as the defending Challenger Series champions, having won two Challenger Series events in 2024. They placed fourth at the 2024 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.
Teams Elite, the 2024 U.S. junior titlists, kicked off their current campaign before the holidays with a silver-medal finish at the Santa Claus Cup.
Skyliners junior also compete internationally for a second time this season, having earned the bronze medal at the Santa Claus Cup. The team from Fairfield, Connecticut, delivered a stellar 2024 international season with a gold and a silver medal at the Lumiere Cup and Hevelius Cup, respectively, as well as a bronze medal at the 2024 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.
Competition begins Friday with the junior and senior short programs and concludes Saturday with the junior and senior free skates.
The Challenger Series, which began in 2019-20, consists of up to five international competitions linked together to give adequate opportunities for synchronized skating teams to compete at the international level, earn World Standing Points and prepare for competing at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
To follow Team USA at Dresden Cup, including full results, streaming information, bios and more, visit the Challenger Series Synchronized Skating Competition Central.
